Sonny Allen (1936-2020) was the men’s basketball coach at Old Dominion University (ODU) from 1965 to 1975, after long-time basketball coach Arthur “Bud” Metheny stepped down. Allen is credited from raising the awareness of ODU basketball from a small, rag-tag team to national prominence as an NCAA Division II powerhouse. Personal History Allen grew up… read more »
Joseph C. “Scrap” Chandler was a former baseball, basketball, swimming, and track coach as well as the athletic director after Thomas L. “Tommy” Scott. History Arriving at the Norfolk Division in 1942, “Scrap” Chandler became the athletic director as well as coach of the baseball, basketball, swimming, and track teams. In addition to the being… read more »
The Department of Ocean and Earth Sciences is one of the departments that make up the College of Sciences at Old Dominion University (ODU). Most of the classes take place in the Oceanography and Physical Sciences Building. History The oceanography program began as the Oceanography Laboratory in 1960. In 1965, the Institute of Oceanography was… read more »
Women’s Basketball at Old Dominion University (ODU) has been a part of the institution since 1931, when it was known as the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary. The nickname for the women’s basketball team is the Lady Monarchs. Home basketball games take place at Chartway Arena at the Ted Constant Convocation… read more »
Ronald Horne was the first African American to receive a bachelor’s degree from Old Dominion University (ODU). Old Dominion Accomplishments Ronald Horne came to Old Dominion College in 1965, making him one of the first African Americans to enroll at the college after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 opened the doors for more African… read more »
Alexander Brooks “A.B.” Jackson was the first African American professor at Old Dominion University (ODU). ODU and Personal Accomplishments Jackson taught art at Old Dominion from 1967 until his death in 1981. Previously the chair of the Art Department at the Norfolk Division of Virginia State College, now Norfolk State University, Jackson specialized in painting,… read more »
Arthur “Buttons” Speakes was the first African American athlete to be recruited by and receive a scholarship from a predominately white college in Virginia. Old Dominion Accomplishments Speakes was one of the best all-around athletes who ever came to Old Dominion University (ODU). Speakes excelled at both baseball and basketball from 1965 to 1969. An… read more »
During the 1950s and 1960s, the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary denied admission to African American undergraduate students to comply with the Virginia laws of segregation. History During World War II, there were several instances of African American Naval officers taking classes offered by the Norfolk Division at Naval Station Norfolk…. read more »
Big Blue is the official mascot of Old Dominion University (ODU). Big Blue is a lion with a blue crown on his head and wearing either a football or basketball jersey with the number “00” on the front. History When ODU became independent from the College of William & Mary in 1962, while there was… read more »
The Gadfly was a student literary magazine at Old Dominion University (ODU) from 1962 to 1972. History Founded in 1962 by Eric Browne and other students, the Gadfly featured poetry, artwork, satire, photography, and essays in the quarterly magazine. With English professor Leland Peterson as its adviser, the Gadfly pushed the envelope on topics related… read more »