Donald L. "Don" Chapman, a businessman, entrepreneur and civic leader, has been awarded the first community service award named in honor of the late Dean of Students George C. Griffin.
Chapman, IM '61, received the Dean Griffin Community Service Award at the President's Luncheon Nov. 5, during Homecoming weekend.
In accepting the award, a certificate presented as a scroll, Chapman said, "I am especially proud to receive this award because it is named for George Griffin."
Griffin, CE '22, who died in 1990 at age 93, was involved with Georgia Tech for almost 70 years in such capacities as student, teacher, coach and dean. Past President Edwin Harrision described Griffin at his 1964 retirement as the ideal dean of students-"a dad, a Dutch uncle, a wise man, a counselor, a judge, a disciplinarian, a guide, a walking bank, and a handyman." Griffin was a consultant with the Alumni Association until he was nearly 90.
After graduating from Georgia Tech, Don Chapman became a businessman- and then an entrepreneur. He has been a founder and chief executive officer of seven different companies.
In 1983, he became the founder, CEO and president of Opti-World, which has grown into a chain of more than 50 optical stores.
Chapman is also president and owner of Tug Manufacturing Corp., a Marietta firm that manufactures airport ground support equipment.
In 1989, Chapman was named Entrepreneur of the Year by Business Atlanta. In 1992 he was presented the Atlanta Chamber Phoenix Award.
As a student at Tech, Chapman was president of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, and business manager of the Rambler.
As an alumnus, Chapman has accelerated his involvement.
He is a member of the Georgia Tech Foundation and the Georgia Tech Advisory Board, a former president of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, former vice president of the Athletic Association's Alexander-Tharpe Fund, and has served on the Ivan Allen College Campaign Steering Committee, the Student Success Center Major Gifts Committee, and has been a visiting professor on campus. He has contributed to the Roll Call for 31 consecutive years and is a member of the Phoenix Club. He has contributed to the Alexander-Tharpe Fund for 19 years and is a member of the Athletic Director's Circle.
Throughout his professional career, Chapman has been active in community affairs. Football coach Bobby Dodd encouraged Chapman to become involved with Retarded Citizens/Atlanta, and he is a past president of that organization.
Chapman is chairman of the board of SciTrek, the Science and Technology Museum of Atlanta; advisory board chairman of the Link Counseling Center; past president of the Georgia Society to Prevent Blindness; and past chairman of Leadership Atlanta. Chapman is vice chairman of Small Business Services for the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; a director of the Fox Theatre; a member of the Metroplitan Atlanta chapter of the American Red Cross; and the Chief Executives' Organization. He is a founder and elder of Christ Church in Atlanta. Chapman and his wife of 32-years, Beverly, have two daughters, a son and a grandaughter.
Neal Stubblefield, who represented the Alumni Association in presenting the award, said, "Because of your extensive and long-time commitment to community service, it is appropriate that the Georgia Tech Alumni Association honors you, Don Chapman, as the first recipient of the Dean George C. Griffin Award for Community Service." GT