A portrait of the late Edward Vernon Peele, the first dean of the School of Arts and Letters, was dedicated June 2 in the Burgess Room of the Batten Arts and Letters Building.

The portrait was painted several years ago by Charles K. Sibley, professor emeritus of art, and given to the university by Peele's wife, Millie, who was on hand for the ceremony.

Vernon Peele joined the Norfolk Division in 1948 as a professor of English and assistant director of the institution (chief academic officer). In 1956, the year the school awarded its first bachelor's degrees, he became its first dean - dean of instruction - serving in that capacity until 1964.

He then was appointed as the first dean of the School of Arts and Sciences (1964-67) and subsequently served as first dean of the School of Arts and Letters, the largest of Old Dominion's eight schools at the time, from 1967 until his retirement in 1975.

Peele died in 1990 at the age of 80.

At the dedication ceremony, President James V. Koch paid tribute to both the late dean and his wife, who taught in the English department for many years and worked in the Writing Center after her retirement.

Peele still volunteers once a week to read to the children at Larchmont Elementary School, Koch said, and even while in her 80s, continued her trips to Limerick, Ireland, to teach poetry to inner-city teens.

Koch described Peele as the consummate Old Dominion supporter. In addition to opening her home to students, including international students, she is an avid fan of the field hockey and women's basketball teams, and regularly attends many other events on campus.

"She is in the audience for so many concerts and lectures that Donna and I think we are in the wrong place if we turn around and don't see her," Koch said.