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Created page with "{{Infobox officeholder | name=Virgil L. Orr | image=Virgil Orr of LA.jpg | caption=Virgil L. Orr as Dean of Louisiana Tech University (1966) | office=..."
{{Infobox officeholder
| name=Virgil L. Orr
| image=Virgil Orr of LA.jpg
| caption=Virgil L. Orr as [[Dean (education)|Dean]] of [[Louisiana Tech University]] (1966)
| office=[[Louisiana]] State Representatives<br> for District 12 (Lincoln and Union parishes)
| party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]
| term_start=1988
| term_end=1992
| preceded=[[William Sumlin|William R. Sumlin, Jr.]]
| succeeded=Jay McCallum
| birth_date=February 2, 1923
| birth_place=Glenmora, Rapides Parish<br>
Louisiana, USA
| death_date=April 24, 2021 (aged 98)
| death_place=[[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], Louisiana
| resting_place=Douglas Cemetery in<br>
Choudrant, Lincoln Parish
| alma_mater=Glenmora High School<br>
[[Louisiana Tech University]]<br>
[[Louisiana State University]]<br>
Oak Ridge Institute for Nuclear Studies
| residence=[[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], Lincoln Parish
| religion=[[Southern Baptist]]
| occupation=University [[professor]]<br>and administrator
| spouse=Myrtis Chandler Orr<br> (married 1945-2021, his death)
| children=Virginia Orr Rice<br>
Marilyn Orr Hyams<br>
Four grandchildren
| branch=[[United States Army]]
|serviceyears=1944–1946
|battles=[[World War II]]}}
'''Virgil L. Orr''' (February 2, 1923 – April 2021) was an [[United States|American]] academic and [[politician]] from [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], [[Louisiana]].
He was a professor of engineering and administrator at [[Louisiana Tech University]] and served as a [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] state representative for District 12 (Lincoln and Union parishes) between 1988 and 1992.<ref>HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf (louisiana.gov), Lincoln and Union parishes, accessed May 4, 2021.</ref>
==Background==
Orr was born in Glenmora in south Rapides Parish and graduated in 1940 from Glenmora High School. He received a Bachelor of Science in chemical [[engineering]] at Louisiana Tech, while also worked as a waiter to pay his student expenses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latech.edu/specialcollections/collections/m315.shtml|title=Virgil Orr, Student Waiter|publisher=latech.edu|access-date=July 20, 2010}}</ref> He then achieved a [[Master of Science]] degree and his [[Ph.D.]] from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]] in 1948 and 1950, respectively.<ref name=lsu>{{cite web|url=http://www.che.lsu.edu/newsletter/fall2003_spring2004/alumni_news.html|title=Alumni News|date=2003-2004|publisher=che.lsu.edu|accessdate=July 19, 2010}}</ref> Orr served in the [[United States Army]] during [[World War II]] from 1944 to 1946. He served in the [[United States Army]] during [[World War II]] from 1944 to 1946. He also attended the Oak Ridge Institute for Nuclear Studies in Oak Ridge west of [[Knoxville]], [[Tennessee]].<ref name=rdl>Dr. Virgil Orr | Ruston Daily Leader (rustonleader.com), accessed May 4, 2021.</ref>'Who's Who in American Politics, 2003-2004'', 19th ed., Vol. 1 (Alabama-Montana) (Marquis Who's Who: New Providence, [[New Jersey]], 2003), p. 790.</ref>
In September 1952, Orr joined the Louisiana Tech faculty. In 1966, he was co-authored the article, "Vapor–Liquid Equilibrium for the Hexamethyldisiloxane–''n''-Propyl Alcohol System", with colleagues Woodrow W. Chew, Jr. and Charles A. Killgore, which was published in the ''Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data''.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Research Article (October 1966)|journal=Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data|volume=11|issue=4|pages=535–537|doi=10.1021/je60031a018|year = 1966|last1 = Killgore|first1 = C. A.|last2=Chew|first2=W. W.|last3=Orr|first3=Virgil}}</ref> He was subsequently appointed to the role of Dean of the College and served as Vice President, under [[F. Jay Taylor]], before retiring in June 1980. Louisiana Tech would later honor Orr with the Virgil Orr Professorship in Chemical Engineering<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latechalumni.org/s/810/index.aspx?sid=810&gid=1&pgid=504|title=Endowed Eminent Scholar Chairs and Endowed Professorships|publisher=latechalumni.org|access-date=July 10, 2010}}</ref> and the Virgil Orr Undergraduate Junior Faculty Award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latech.edu/capd/Virgil%20Orr.shtml|title=The Virgil Orr Junior Faculty Award|publisher=latech.edu|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref><ref name=rdl/>
In 1991, Orr was the recipient of the Russ Award, named for Robert Edwin Russ (1830-1902), the founder of Ruston. Three years later the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association presented him with its Tower Medallion. The following year he appeared on Louisiana Tech's Top 100 Alumni list.<ref name=whoswho/> During 1994–1995, Orr took on the role of President of the Louisiana Tech Foundation.<ref>"[Jack E.] Byrd elected to board," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' September 14, 1994, p. 1.</ref>
==Politics==
Orr contested the [[nonpartisan blanket primary]] in October 1987, and received 5,846 votes (44 percent), comfortably beating incumbent William R. Sumlin's 4,176 votes (31%). As a result, Sumlin did not contest the November election, and Orr was automatically declared representative-elect without a second round of voting.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 24, 1987.</ref>
In October 1991, he was himself defeated in a primary, by Jay McCallum, a fellow Democrat and later a Republican [[attorney]] and [[judge]]. McCallum received 8,286 votes (52 percent) to Orr's 7,528 (48 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 19, 1991.</ref> Orr served a single term on the Louisiana Ethics Board after finishing his term in the legislature.<ref name=lsu/>
In 2010, Orr was appointed to the Lincoln Parish Library Board.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rustonleader.com/news.php?id=6880|author=Laura Bond|title=Taxing decision: Board OKs ad valorem proposal|date=July 2, 2010|publisher=''The Ruston Daily Leader''|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Orr and his wife, the former Myrtis Chandler (born 1924), had two daughters, Virginia Orr Rice of [[Little Rock]], [[Arkansas]] and Marilyn Orr Hyams and husband Bill of Ruston. He was active in the Temple Baptist Church in Ruston, where he was at times a [[Sunday school]] teacher and a [[deacon]].<ref name=rdl/> The Louisiana Tech Alumni Association awarded Myrtis Orr with the Tower Medallion in 2018, which Virgil Orr had received in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spark.adobe.com/page/bN1pd2IrOWrjy/|title=Myrtis Orr Joins Hall of Distinguished Alumni|publisher=The Tenent|date=April 2018|access-date=May 13, 2018}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Orr, Virgil}}
[[Category:Louisiana People]]
[[Category:Engineers]]
[[Category:Educators]]
[[Category:Professors]]
[[Category:Politicians]]
[[Category:State Representatives]]
[[Category:Former Democrats]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:United States Army]]
[[Category:Southern Baptists]]
| name=Virgil L. Orr
| image=Virgil Orr of LA.jpg
| caption=Virgil L. Orr as [[Dean (education)|Dean]] of [[Louisiana Tech University]] (1966)
| office=[[Louisiana]] State Representatives<br> for District 12 (Lincoln and Union parishes)
| party=[[Democratic Party|Democrat]]
| term_start=1988
| term_end=1992
| preceded=[[William Sumlin|William R. Sumlin, Jr.]]
| succeeded=Jay McCallum
| birth_date=February 2, 1923
| birth_place=Glenmora, Rapides Parish<br>
Louisiana, USA
| death_date=April 24, 2021 (aged 98)
| death_place=[[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], Louisiana
| resting_place=Douglas Cemetery in<br>
Choudrant, Lincoln Parish
| alma_mater=Glenmora High School<br>
[[Louisiana Tech University]]<br>
[[Louisiana State University]]<br>
Oak Ridge Institute for Nuclear Studies
| residence=[[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], Lincoln Parish
| religion=[[Southern Baptist]]
| occupation=University [[professor]]<br>and administrator
| spouse=Myrtis Chandler Orr<br> (married 1945-2021, his death)
| children=Virginia Orr Rice<br>
Marilyn Orr Hyams<br>
Four grandchildren
| branch=[[United States Army]]
|serviceyears=1944–1946
|battles=[[World War II]]}}
'''Virgil L. Orr''' (February 2, 1923 – April 2021) was an [[United States|American]] academic and [[politician]] from [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], [[Louisiana]].
He was a professor of engineering and administrator at [[Louisiana Tech University]] and served as a [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] state representative for District 12 (Lincoln and Union parishes) between 1988 and 1992.<ref>HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf (louisiana.gov), Lincoln and Union parishes, accessed May 4, 2021.</ref>
==Background==
Orr was born in Glenmora in south Rapides Parish and graduated in 1940 from Glenmora High School. He received a Bachelor of Science in chemical [[engineering]] at Louisiana Tech, while also worked as a waiter to pay his student expenses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latech.edu/specialcollections/collections/m315.shtml|title=Virgil Orr, Student Waiter|publisher=latech.edu|access-date=July 20, 2010}}</ref> He then achieved a [[Master of Science]] degree and his [[Ph.D.]] from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]] in 1948 and 1950, respectively.<ref name=lsu>{{cite web|url=http://www.che.lsu.edu/newsletter/fall2003_spring2004/alumni_news.html|title=Alumni News|date=2003-2004|publisher=che.lsu.edu|accessdate=July 19, 2010}}</ref> Orr served in the [[United States Army]] during [[World War II]] from 1944 to 1946. He served in the [[United States Army]] during [[World War II]] from 1944 to 1946. He also attended the Oak Ridge Institute for Nuclear Studies in Oak Ridge west of [[Knoxville]], [[Tennessee]].<ref name=rdl>Dr. Virgil Orr | Ruston Daily Leader (rustonleader.com), accessed May 4, 2021.</ref>'Who's Who in American Politics, 2003-2004'', 19th ed., Vol. 1 (Alabama-Montana) (Marquis Who's Who: New Providence, [[New Jersey]], 2003), p. 790.</ref>
In September 1952, Orr joined the Louisiana Tech faculty. In 1966, he was co-authored the article, "Vapor–Liquid Equilibrium for the Hexamethyldisiloxane–''n''-Propyl Alcohol System", with colleagues Woodrow W. Chew, Jr. and Charles A. Killgore, which was published in the ''Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data''.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Research Article (October 1966)|journal=Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data|volume=11|issue=4|pages=535–537|doi=10.1021/je60031a018|year = 1966|last1 = Killgore|first1 = C. A.|last2=Chew|first2=W. W.|last3=Orr|first3=Virgil}}</ref> He was subsequently appointed to the role of Dean of the College and served as Vice President, under [[F. Jay Taylor]], before retiring in June 1980. Louisiana Tech would later honor Orr with the Virgil Orr Professorship in Chemical Engineering<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latechalumni.org/s/810/index.aspx?sid=810&gid=1&pgid=504|title=Endowed Eminent Scholar Chairs and Endowed Professorships|publisher=latechalumni.org|access-date=July 10, 2010}}</ref> and the Virgil Orr Undergraduate Junior Faculty Award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latech.edu/capd/Virgil%20Orr.shtml|title=The Virgil Orr Junior Faculty Award|publisher=latech.edu|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref><ref name=rdl/>
In 1991, Orr was the recipient of the Russ Award, named for Robert Edwin Russ (1830-1902), the founder of Ruston. Three years later the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association presented him with its Tower Medallion. The following year he appeared on Louisiana Tech's Top 100 Alumni list.<ref name=whoswho/> During 1994–1995, Orr took on the role of President of the Louisiana Tech Foundation.<ref>"[Jack E.] Byrd elected to board," ''[[Minden Press-Herald]],'' September 14, 1994, p. 1.</ref>
==Politics==
Orr contested the [[nonpartisan blanket primary]] in October 1987, and received 5,846 votes (44 percent), comfortably beating incumbent William R. Sumlin's 4,176 votes (31%). As a result, Sumlin did not contest the November election, and Orr was automatically declared representative-elect without a second round of voting.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 24, 1987.</ref>
In October 1991, he was himself defeated in a primary, by Jay McCallum, a fellow Democrat and later a Republican [[attorney]] and [[judge]]. McCallum received 8,286 votes (52 percent) to Orr's 7,528 (48 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 19, 1991.</ref> Orr served a single term on the Louisiana Ethics Board after finishing his term in the legislature.<ref name=lsu/>
In 2010, Orr was appointed to the Lincoln Parish Library Board.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rustonleader.com/news.php?id=6880|author=Laura Bond|title=Taxing decision: Board OKs ad valorem proposal|date=July 2, 2010|publisher=''The Ruston Daily Leader''|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Orr and his wife, the former Myrtis Chandler (born 1924), had two daughters, Virginia Orr Rice of [[Little Rock]], [[Arkansas]] and Marilyn Orr Hyams and husband Bill of Ruston. He was active in the Temple Baptist Church in Ruston, where he was at times a [[Sunday school]] teacher and a [[deacon]].<ref name=rdl/> The Louisiana Tech Alumni Association awarded Myrtis Orr with the Tower Medallion in 2018, which Virgil Orr had received in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spark.adobe.com/page/bN1pd2IrOWrjy/|title=Myrtis Orr Joins Hall of Distinguished Alumni|publisher=The Tenent|date=April 2018|access-date=May 13, 2018}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Orr, Virgil}}
[[Category:Louisiana People]]
[[Category:Engineers]]
[[Category:Educators]]
[[Category:Professors]]
[[Category:Politicians]]
[[Category:State Representatives]]
[[Category:Former Democrats]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:United States Army]]
[[Category:Southern Baptists]]