John McLaren McBryde (January 1, 1841 – March 20, 1923) was the fifth president of Virginia Tech, serving from July 1, 1891 to September 1, 1907.

[1] McBryde was present at the opening bombardment of Fort Sumter, South Carolina and fought in a Virginia cavalry unit.

The new name also brought new colors, which still stand as Chicago maroon and burnt orange, a school motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), and a new college yell which prompted the nickname Hokies.

's first native-limestone-clad, neo-Gothic-style building, known as "The Chapel", was constructed on the site where Newman Library stands today.

[4] In the late 1800s McBryde persuaded the Board of Visitors to build the 15,147-square-foot Southern Colonial Revival mansion now known as "The Grove" to house the V.P.I.