Dr. James L. Bugg, Jr.

Norfolk - James Luckin Bugg, Jr., 94, of Harbor's Edge, died Thursday, January 15, 2015 in his residence. He is a native of Farmville, Virginia and a resident of Norfolk since 1969. He was the son of the late James Luckin Bugg, Sr. and Hessie St. Clair Woodruff Bugg. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Anne Hunter Bugg.

Dr. Bugg received his Bachelor of Arts, Summa Cum Laude, from Hampden-Sydney College in 1941. He received his Master of Arts and Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, in 1942 and 1950, serving in the US Army Air Corps during World War II between advanced degrees. He worked as a professor of history in the state of Missouri for two decades, serving as chairman of the Department of History at the University of Missouri from 1959-62. Bugg was chancellor at the University of Missouri at St. Louis when appointed as the second president of Old Dominion University in 1969. During his tenure at ODU, it made the transition from a college to a doctoral degree-granting university. The ODU alumni association named a scholarship for him entitled the James L Bugg, Jr. Scholarship for an outstanding freshman who is the son or daughter of an ODU alumnus or alumna.

Dr. Bugg was a member of multiple professional associations, most particularly Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, Lambda Chi Alpha, American Historical Association, Organization of American Historians, Southern Historical Association, Virginia Historical Association, State Historical Society of Missouri, and the American Association of Higher Education

He was also inducted as a member of Raven Society of the University of Virginia and was honored in 1968 with the Thomas Jefferson Award by the University of Missouri.

He was a member of Christ and St. Luke's Episcopal Church having served as a member of the vestry. He served on the Committee on Higher Education Issues of the National Council of Churches, the National Commission for college work for the Episcopal Church, the Chairman of the Department of College work of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, the advisory council for the Virginia State Commission on Higher Education, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Norfolk Better Business Bureau, and Norfolk Symphony Association.

Bugg's everyday actions and the supportive environment he provided instilled in his family and his students the importance of education, integrity and the highest morality. He was the patriarch of the family and a brilliant orator who enthralled all around him regularly with his detailed historical accounts of personal and family events as well as the history of America. His dedication to God, his church and his family set the tone for a positive upbringing and taught beautiful life lessons to all who knew and loved him.

Survivors include his daughter, Anne Bugg Payne and her husband George, and his son James Luckin Bugg, III and his wife Ann Stuart Bugg all of Norfolk; his sister Mary St. Clair Holland of Charlottesville, VA; and four grandchildren; Hunter Scott Payne, Jamie Elizabeth Payne, and James Luckin Bugg, IV, and Ramsey Burnell Bugg.

A memorial service will be held in Christ & St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Saturday, January 24, 2015 at 2:00 PM. The Reverend Canon Win Lewis and The Reverend Jess Stribling will officiate. Inurnment will be in the church columbarium. Memorial donations may be made to The James L. Bugg Jr. Scholarship at Old Dominion University or Christ and St. Luke's Episcopal Church. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Norfolk chapel is handling the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at hdoliver.com.

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Published by The Virginian-Pilot on Jan. 18, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for James Bugg

Sponsored by the family.

7 Entries

March 8, 2015

I was sorry to learn about Dr. Bugg's death. He was certainly a noble figure. I was his student at the U. of Missouri-Columbia, where he was a commanding presence in so many lives. In later years, I spent a day with him in St. Louis and another in Norfolk, and although I interrupted a busy schedule, he was gracious with his time and advice. I owe much of my professional success and personal resilience to his wise counsel, and his memory will always be vivid. David Wigdor, Washington, DC.

K T

February 4, 2015

I was a student at the University of Missouri St. Louis when Dr. Bugg was Chancellor. He was friendly and approachable, mingling with students and listening to concerns. Condolences to his family.

Jacqueline Taylor-Braxton

January 27, 2015

Sorry for your loss
Praying for the family.

January 26, 2015

My condolences to the Bugg family. I was one of Dr. Bugg's students in the mid 80's. He was by far one of the best professors I had in my college life. I was amazed with his knowledge of the smallest details that he spoke about in class that made the class interesting. He was a great educator and person.

Wilbur Hogge, BS Civil Engineering, ODU '86

January 23, 2015

My sincere condolences to the Bugg family for Dr. Bugg's passing. He was a man of great accomplishment and leaves behind an inspiring legacy. Sincerely, Joe Giltner

January 22, 2015

To the tribute of my friend and classmate, Douglas Sutton, I would like to add my thanks for Dr. Bugg's vision and dedication in shaping the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Richard Dagger, AB Political Science, UMSL 1970; Professor, University of Richmond.

January 22, 2015

My condolences to the Bugg family on their loss. I was in the fourth graduating class (1970) of UMSL, and while serving on the campus newspaper I met and interviewed Dr. Bugg any number of times. He was gracious, courteous and well liked and remembered by the students. Here an anecdotal note: there was a pond the UMSL campus (built on a former golf course) and was dubbed "Bugg Lake" by a newspaper columnist; the name has stuck, and Dr. Bugg at the time humorously accepted the "honor" - even possibly being secretly pleased.

- Douglas Sutton AB History UMSL 1970

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