Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 31, 1995 TAG: 9510310115
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ALLISON BLAKE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Latture came to W&L as a freshman in 1911 from Bristol, Tenn., and went on to found the leadership fraternity Omicron Delta Kappa with classmate J. Carl Fisher. The pair's first chapter has grown to 245 "circles," or chapters, at universities across the country, including 15 in Virginia. It boasts 174,000 members.
"He was an unofficial ambassador for the university," said W&L spokesman Brian Shaw.
Latture received both bachelor and master of arts degrees from W&L, then taught at the Miller School in Albemarle County before serving in World War I. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French army for his work as a translator.
By 1920, Latture had returned to his alma mater as a teacher. He had served as an assistant professor of romance languages, chairman of the political science department and head of the freshman program by the time he retired from teaching in 1962.
Latture was adviser for many years to W&L's mock national political convention. He missed the first one in 1908, but attended every other one through 1984.
After retiring, he stayed on to serve as assistant to three university presidents.
"He was clearly a strong, loyal member of the community for many, many years," said John Wilson, the recently retired W&L president now living in Blacksburg.
He was an elder emeritus of the Lexington Presbyterian Church.
Latture's wife of 50 years, Roberta Fulton Latture, died in 1968. He is survived by a son, William E. Latture of Greensboro, N.C.; a daughter, Roberta L. Woolfenden of Lexington; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Stonewall Jackson Cemetery in Lexington, according to the school.
by CNB