BLACKSBURG (WSLS 10) - A Virginia Tech professor shares the story of a man who left his mark on world history. His name was Jack Good, a fellow professor who spent nearly three decades at the university. Good's brain power not only helped end World War II but led to one of Hollywood's most anticipated movies this award season.
The setting is World War II, at Bletchley Park, where a group of mathematicians break what was thought to be a seemingly unbreakable Nazi code.
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"Sure there's some Hollywood stretches and some dramatic effects that are happening but for the most part it's accurate," said Virginia Tech Professor Scotland Leman.
He's seen the movie, The Imitation Game which tells the true story of Alan Turing and his team-- including Leman's friend-- Jack Good. He was a university distinguished professor who spent nearly 30 years at Virginia Tech before he died in 2009 at age 92.
"His contributions toward his work spoke volumes and that's how he kind of always endeavor while he was at Virginia Tech. He wrote 2000 articles. That's a lot that's a lot of articles."
While not the title character in the film, Good, portrayed by James Northcote, loved to work. Whether it was decrypting messages decades earlier or as a professor at Tech.
"He use to have a note on his door and it would say, 'I'm available for consultation on any day, at any time including Christmas.' He wanted to work."
Leman says Good's work changed the world. By a number of accounts, it helped to shorten the war by two years.
"The impact is mathematical achievement, computing achievement and human lives," Leman said. "So this really is a case where mathematics saved lives."
The code breakers couldn't talk about their top secret work until it was later declassified. Decades later, the story is being told on the big screen.
"He would adore it. He would be really proud."
It's a contribution to the world, finally being noticed by a larger audience.
The Imitation Game is now playing at local theaters.