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Orr was born in Glenmora in south Rapides Parish to Jessie Lee Orr (1898-1981) and Lily Aplonia "Lonie" Monroe (1893-1986). He 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 name=rdl/><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; article no longer accessible on-line}}</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; no longer on-lin}}.</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><ref name=whoswho>Virgil L. Orr, ''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>

Orr was born in Glenmora in south Rapides Parish to Jessie Lee Orr (1898-1981) and Lily Aplonia "Lonie" Monroe (1893-1986). He 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 name=rdl/><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; article no longer accessible on-line}}</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; no longer on-lin}}.</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><ref name=whoswho>Virgil L. Orr, ''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 web|title=Research Article|date=October 1966|publisher=''The Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data''|volume=11|issue=4|pages=535–537|url=10.1021/je60031a018|author=C. A. Kilgore, Woodrow W. Chew, and Virgil Orr|accessdate=May 4, 2021}}</ref> He was subsequently appointed Dean of the College and served as Vice President, under [[F. Jay Taylor]], before he retired in 1980. Louisiana Tech honored 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|accessdate=July 10, 2010; no longer accessible on-line}}</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 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 web|title=Research Article|date=October 1966|publisher=''The Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data''|volume=11|issue=4|pages=535–537|url=10.1021/je60031a018|author=C. A. Kilgore, Woodrow W. Chew, and Virgil Orr|accessdate=May 4, 2021}}</ref> He was subsequently appointed Dean of the College and served as Vice President, under [[F. Jay Taylor]], before he retired in 1980 after twenty-eight years at the university. Louisiana Tech honored 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|accessdate=July 10, 2010; no longer accessible on-line}}</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>

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>