John L.
Pierce ’19
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Army Brig. Gen.
John L. Pierce became Deputy Chief of Staff for the 3rd Armored Division from 1941 to 1942. In 1943, John Pierce was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and was also appointed Chief of Staff of Armored Command. From 1944 to 1945 he was the Commanding General of the 16th Armored Division in North-West Europe. He was appointed the President Secretary of War's Discharge Review Board from 1945-1946. Brig. Gen. John L. Pierce passed away in 1959.
J.D.
Hill ’21
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Army Maj. Gen.
Abilene, TX
Maj. Gen. J.D. Hill passed away in 1983.
Arthur B.
Knickerbocker ’21
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Army Brig. Gen.
Arthur “Knick” Balfour Knickerbocker was born on September 21, 1896 in Lake Providence, Louisiana. His growing-up years were in Louisiana, California, Nevada and Texas.
In 1915, Knick began college studies at Southwestern University where he played on the football and basketball teams. On July 1, 1917, Knick reported to the U.S. Navy Recruiting Station in Houston to begin a brief stint in the U.S. Navy. When he was discharged from the Navy, he enrolled at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas.
Knick was the quarterback on the Aggie football team of 1919, which was the Southwest Conference Champion. The Aggies scored 275 points; their opponents did not score against them. The head football coach was Dana X. Bible who later was the head coach at the University of Texas. He was the only coach to serve at A&M and UT. In the 1920 yearbook, it was written that “Knickbocker was the best pilot the Aggie Machine ever had.” In the same year, Knick was the sports editor of the Battalion staff. In 1920-21, he was chairman of the R. V. Hop and was a commissioned 1st lieutenant with the Ross Volunteers.
Knick and three good friends formed a small singing group which was very popular on campus. They called themselves the Cast Iron Quartet. J.V. “Pinky” Wilson was in the quartet and was Knick’s roommate. It was Pinky who composed the “Aggie War Hymn.”
As a civil engineer, Knick formed his own construction company and built highways, bridges and other allied constructions primarily in Texas. On December 24, 1922, Knick married Nellie Mae Pettey of Durant, Oklahoma. Knick and Nellie Mae had two daughters, Betty Sue and Nancy. While living in Odessa in the early 1940’s, Knick helped organize the Texas Defense Guard. Governor Coke Stevenson appointed Knick to the position of Adjutant General of the State of Texas. Knick was then promoted to brigadier general. He served 1943-1947. During those years the family lived at Camp Mabry in Austin, the headquarters of the Texas State Guard. Knick’s office, however, was in the State Capitol. After Knick completed the second of two two-year terms leading the Texas State Guard, he worked for H.B. Zachry Co. as the superintendent of the pipeline division.
In 1946, Knick was awarded an honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas.
October 6, 1951 was a big game day at Kyle Field because the Texas Aggies were playing the Oklahoma Sooners. Knick, Nellie Mae and 16-year-old Nancy drove from Austin to College Station with another Aggie couple and their daughter to attend the pre-game festivities and the night game together. It was an exciting, rainy game and the Aggies came out on top, 14-7. The victory was terrific and everyone in Aggieland was ecstatic.
The drive back to Austin was dark and wet. Near Manor, Texas, a tragic accident happened involving two cars and a truck. Six of 10 persons were killed. Two of the persons were Knick and Nellie Mae Knickerbocker. Had they survived, they would have loved and enjoyed their daughters Betty Sue and Nancy, two sons-in-law, two grandsons and five granddaughters. The first grandson was named Arthur Knickerbocker Garwood who was a fine football player at Duke University.
Cranford C.
Warden ’21
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Army Brig. Gen.
Brig. Gen. Carnford C. Warden has passed away.
Aubry L.
Moore ’23
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Air Force Brig. Gen.
Frost, TX
Brig. Gen. Aubry L. Moore graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1929 and was appointed second lieutenant in the Field Artillery Reserve.
He has served as the commanding general of the 1503rd Air Transport Wing in Japan, chief of the Air Force Manpower Group and deputy director of Manpower and Organization in the Office of Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at Air Force Headquarters. He was rated a command pilot, combat observer and aircraft observer
His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal.
Brig. Gen. Aubry L. Moore passed away on June 9, 1980.
Otto P.
Weyland ’23
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Air Force Gen.
San Antonio, TX
Gen. Otto P. Weyland graduated from Texas A&M University in 1923 with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. He also received his commission into the Air Service that year.
Gen. Otto P. Weyland served as Post-World War II Commander of Far East Air Forces during Korean War and of Tactical Air Command.
His military awards and decorations include two Distinguished Service Medals, the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, and Air Medal.
Gen. Otto P. Weyland passed away in 1979.
Robert B.
Williams ’23
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Air Force Maj. Gen.
San Antonio, TX
Maj. Gen. Robert B. Williams was born in Albany, TX, on November 9, 1901. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering in 1923. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Service on June 6, 1923.
In September 1942, he was named to command the 2nd Bomb Command at Fort George Wright, Wash. He was in command of the 16th Bomb Wing briefly in April 1943, and on May 1, 1943, became Commanding General of the 1st Bomb Command, El Paso, Texas. In June 1943 he was assigned to the 8th Air Force in Great Britain, subsequently becoming Commanding General of the 1st Bombardment Division. He returned to the United States in October 1944 and was named Commanding General of the 2nd Air Force, Colorado Springs, Colo.
He is rated a command pilot and combat observer.
He received the Order of the Southern Cross from the government of Brazil in 1940 for his participation in the flight to Rio de Janeiro.
Maj. Gen. Robert B. Williams retired on July 1, 1946 and passed away on February 10, 1977.
William D.
Old ’24
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Air Force Maj. Gen.
San Antonio, TX
Maj. Gen. William D. Old graduated from Texas A&M University in 1924 with a bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering.
Maj. Gen. William D. Old passed away in 1965.
Ion M.
Bethel ’25
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Marine Corps Lt. Gen.
Palos Verde Estates, CA
After retiring Lt. Gen. Ion M. Bethel resided in Palos Verde Estates, CA and passed away in 1985.
Spencer J.
Buchanan ’25
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Army Brig. Gen.
College Station, TX
Brig. Gen. Spencer J. Buchanan passed away in 1982.
Robert W.
Colglazier ’25
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Army Lt. Gen.
Colglazier received a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1925. Upon his retirement from the U.S. Army after 40 years, he was considered one of the world’s foremost authorities in the field of logistics. He made special studies of logistical situations in Europe for NATO and logistical studies of world oil reserves.
William R.
Frederick, Jr. ’25
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Army Brig. Gen.
Elmhurst, NY
Brig. Gen. William R. Frederick, Jr. passed away in 1965.
Richard J.
Werner ’25
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Army Brig. Gen.
San Antonio, TX
Brig. Gen. Richard J. Werner graduated from Texas A&M University in 1925 with a bachelor's degree in Architecture.
Brig. Gen. Richard J. Werner passed away in 1977.
Manning E.
Tillery ’26
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Air Force Maj. Gen.
San Antonio, TX
Maj. Gen. Manning E. Tillery graduated from Texas A&M University in 1926 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
For the Hawaiian Air Materiel Area, he has served as deputy chief of staff, deputy commander of Maintenance and Supply Division, and assumed command of Pacific Air Depot. At Wright-Paterson Air Force base, he served as deputy director of Maintenance engineering.
Maj. Gen. Manning E. Tillery has been awarded the Legion of Merit.
Maj Gen. Manning E. Tillery passed away on November 6, 1988.
William T.
Hefley ’27
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Air Force Maj. Gen
N/A
William Tell Hefley was born in Cameron, Texas, in 1906, the son of a Texas attorney. Upon graduation from Yoe High School at Cameron in 1923, he entered Texas A&M for pre-engineering studies.
During his year there, he received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy, entering West Point as a cadet in 1924. Graduating in 1928 with a bachelor of science degree, he was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers.
General Hefley's first assignment as a lieutenant was to the District Engineer Office in New Orleans, La., where he served as a student officer and was engaged in flood control work. In 1929 he began a two year assignment with the 8th Engineer Battalion, a mounted unit of the 1st Cavalry Division, at Fort McIntosh, Texas. As an engineer on horseback, Lieutenant Hefley performed every duty that could be given to a company grade officer.
In 1931 Lieutenant Hefley began pilot training at Brooks Field. He completed flight training at the flying schools at Randolph and Kelly fields in the open cockpit, fabric-surface aircraft of that day, winning his pilot's wings in June 1932 and transferring to the Air Corps. He is today rated as a command pilot.
Lieutenant Hefley's first assignment after graduation from flying school returned him to Brooks Field where he assumed the varied duties of a squadron officer and pilot with the 8th Observation Group. Promoted to captain in 1935, he was reassigned from Brooks Field to the Aircraft Maintenance and Armament School at Chanute Field for a ten-month course that introduced him to his career-long-work in these and allied fields.
The maintenance and armament course at Chanute was followed by a three-year assignment as a maintenance officer in the Air Corps Materiel Division at Wright Field. With this background in the theory and practice of maintenance, Captain Hefley advanced in 1939 to a series of assignments within the organization, that was the predecessor to the Air Materiel Command, gaining staff experience and an increasin1gly comprehensive knowledge of techniques and procedures. His first staff assignment was in the Office of the Chief of the Air Corps in Washington, D.C., during which he was promoted to major. Later as a colonel, he served until July 1942 as executive in the headquarters of the Air Service Command also in Washington. This was follo1wed by tours of duty as chief of staff of 3rd Air Service Area Command in Atlanta, Ga., during the second half of 1942 and the first few months of 1943, and as deputy chief of the Maintenance Division at the Air Service Command headquarters Patterson Field during the remainder of 1943 and until February 1944.
A new assignment as deputy commander of the VIII Air Force Service Command took Colonel Hefley to England in March 1944. During this wartime service, Colonel Hefley's ability and success in establishing procedures which sped the return of damaged aircraft to combat was recognized by awards of the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Croix de Guerre with palm.
The war ended, Colonel Hefley returned to the United States in September 1945,and assumed the duties of deputy chief of the Maintenance Division at Headquarters Air Technical Service Command, Patterson Air Force Base. This service won him the Army Commendation Ribbon. The citation mentions his " ... unusual ability as an administrator ...," which enabled him " ... to obtain maximum production efficiency." A year later he was selected to attend the National War College in Washington D.C., completing the course there in July 1947.
Colonel Hefley then returned to maintenance engineering duties at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, in the capacity of deputy chief of the Maintenance Division in Headquarters Air Materiel Command. In July 1948 he was assigned to Oklahoma City Air Materiel Area as director of maintenance and later became deputy commander.
Colonel Hefley was appointed to a particularly interesting and challenging assignment in April 1950, when he became chief of staff for Air Task Group 3.4, based at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. This unit participated in the atomic exercises held at Eniwetok in the Marianas during 1951. Colonel Hefley's contribution to these tests was recognized by the award of the first oak leaf cluster to the Commendation Ribbon.
Promoted to brigadier general in July 1951, he returned to Headquarters Air Materiel Command in September of that year as assistant for plans, programs, and requirements, and in August 1952 he became assistant deputy commander.
In July 1953, General Hefley began a three-year assignment at Sacramento Air Materiel Area, McClellan Air Force Base. His first post was that of deputy commander. In June 1954 he became SMAMA commander and a few months later, in October, he was promoted to major general. General Hefley's many noteworthy accomplishments at SMAMA ranged over the entire field of maintenance and supply. As a commander who devoted special attention to management techniques, he was very successful in establishing at SMAMA the new management and accounting procedures which were at that time being introduced in the Air Materiel Command.
In July 1956 General Hefley left Sacramento for his assignment as commander, Air Materiel Force, European Area. General Hefley moved his headquarters from its original location at Wiesbaden, Germany, to Chateauroux France, May 15, 1958.
As the AMC commander's representative in Europe, General Hefley managed the conversion and transition of an expensive and cumbersome depot system into a streamlined and flexible system for supporting U.S. Air Force and allied units in the European-African-Middle East area. During his tour, three major depots and five minor depots were closed out, command personnel strength was reduced from 24,000 to less than 6,000 people, and operating costs were cut by $35 million a year.
In place of an expensive and relatively-inefficient overseas depot system, General Hefley instituted a decentralized and more flexible logistics structure. This system, which places overseas air combat units on direct supply support, from the U.S. and which handles their aircraft maintenance needs through European contractors was the result of a three-year long program to revitalize the obsolete logistics network which existed in the European-African-Middle East theater.
On Aug. 15, 1960, General Hefley was transferred to Headquarters Air Materiel Command, Dayton, Ohio, for a two and one-half month tour of temporary duty. While at AMC headquarters, he completed a special manpower resources study for the AMC commander.
He assumed duties as commander of the Warner Robins Air Materiel Area, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., Nov. 1, 1960, and is presently serving in that position.
As commander of the Warner Robins Air Materiel Area; known as the Transport Aircraft Logistics Center of the Air Force, General Hefley is worldwide systems manager for this country's first-line transport aircraft. These include the C-124 Globemaster, C-130 and C-133 turboprop aircraft, and the new C-141 jet transport now being developed, as well as several World War II type transports which still play an important part in the Air Force mission.
General Hefley also has the managership for all Air Force airborne armaments - the electronic fire control and bomb-navigation systems used on first-line combat aircraft. Keeping in step with the ballistic missile age, WRAMA, under General Hefley's guidance, has the responsibility of providing specialized repair capability for guidance computers and gyroscopes for the Atlas and Titan missiles. A new workload assumed by General Hefley for WRAMA is the logistics management responsibility for airborne communications-electronics equipment.
WRAMA fills a continuing requirement for logistics support of Air Force combat forces stationed throughout the free world. Materials to keep vast air fleets aloft requires one of the largest and most complex industrial and supply organizations ever conceived. The entire responsibility of WRAMA under the command of General Hefley involves some half-million different items of Air Force material with an inventory value of two and one-half billion dollars.
William L.
Lee ’27
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Air Force Brig. Gen.
Amarillo, TX
Brig. Gen. William L. Lee graduated from Texas A&M University on 1927 with a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Reserve.
In 1956 the General was appointed to Commander of the 3320th Technical Training Wing, Air Training Command, Amarillo Air Force Base, Texas.
His awards and decorations include Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Philippine Distinguished Service Star, French Legion of Honor and Croix de Guerre, and the War Cross for Merit and the War Cross of Valor.
Brig. Gen. William L. Lee passed away in 1983.
James P.
Newberry ’27
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Air Force Brig. Gen.
San Antonio, TX
Brig. Gen. James P. Newberry attended Texas A&M University in 1927 until he left to go serve in the Air Force. He served as deputy chief of staff for materiel for U.S. Air Forces in Europe and deputy assistant for Logistics Plans in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff at Air Force Headquarters.
His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and French Croix de Guerre.
Brig. Gen. James P. Newberry passed away in 1986.
William L.
Kennedy ’28
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Air Force Brig. Gen.
San Antonio, TX
Brig. Gen. William L. Kennedy was born in 1904, in Leggett, TX. After graduation from high school he entered Texas A&M where he received a bachelor of science degree in 1928.
He served as executive officer in the Office of the Assistant for Atomic Energy in Headquarters U.S. Air Force until 1950, when he was named director of operations and deputy for Air Force at the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project. Later, he joined the Tactical Air Command as deputy for personnel, with station at TAC Headquarters, Langley Field, VA.
His decorations and awards include Legion of Merit, Air Medal, Commendation Ribbon, and the French Legion of Honor.
Brig. Gen. William L. Kennedy retired on September 1, 1961 and passed away on March 30, 1993.
George P.
Munson, Jr. ’28
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Army Maj. Gen.
Houston, TX
Maj. Gen. George P. Munson, Jr. graduated from Texas A&M College in 1928. He earned his bachelors degree in Civil Engineering.
Maj. Gen. George P. Munson, Jr. passed away in 2000.
Stuart S.
Hoff ’29
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Army Maj. Gen.
San Antonio, TX
Maj. Gen. Stuart S. Hoff was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma in November of 1914. He graduated from Texas A&M College in 1929 and received an Army Reserve commission in the Infantry.
It was not until September 1940 that he was ordered to extended active duty as a Captain, and initially served as assistant signal officer at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
During World War II he served as assistant signal officer with the Sixth Army in the Southwest Pacific from 1943 to 1946. He was integrated
into the regular Army in 1946 and officially transferred to the Signal Corps in 1951. He had two subsequent tours of duty in the Far East in
Japan and Korea.
Maj. Gen. Stuart S. Hoff became the first Commanding General of Electronics Command and the twenty-second commander of Fort Monmouth.
Maj. Gen. Stuart S. Hoff served until his retirement on July 31, 1963. He passed away in August of 1978.
Benjamin H.
Pochyla ’29
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Army Maj. Gen.
Maj. Gen. Benjamin H. Pochyla graduated from Texas A&M University in 1929 with a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering.
Over his Army career he served 4 tours in the Pentagon, 2 on the Army General Staff, 2 on the Special Staff and one on the Joint Staff. He had command assignments in Germany and the United States. Maj. Gen. Benjamin H. Pochyla served as an instructor at the Army War College. In his final assignment, he was the commander of the U.S. Army Electronic Proving Ground at Fort Huachuca and the installation commander. Maj. Gen. Benjamin H. Pochyla retired in 1966 and passed away on September 14, 1993.
Frederick H.
Weston ’29
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Army Maj. Gen.
San Antonio, TX
Maj. Gen. Weston made several contributions to military training in WWII. Weston was part of the War Department’s morale branch where he helped create the military’s Special Services programs. He wrote a book, Personal Affairs for Military Personnel and Aid for Their Dependents, which aided in the army’s creation of their information program. He was in command and helped organize the Texas National Guard’s 112th Armored Cavalry Regiment. In 1967, he had completed 35 years of military service and was recognized as an export on mobile warfare, light armor, and air-cavalry operations. Frederick Weston earned a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Texas A&M University when it was still called Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College.
Norman L.
Callish ’30
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Air Force Brig. Gen.
Carmichael, CA
Norman L. Callish was born in San Jose, Calif., in 1906. He attended Oregon State College; Loyola University, Los Angeles, Calif.; and the University of California at Los Angles.
He entered pilot training in 1933 and attended flying schools at both Randolph and Kelly fields, Texas. He graduated on Oct. 14, 1934, and was assigned to the 7th Bombardment Group at March Field, Calif., to pilot Martin B-12 bombers.
In the fall of 1935, while assigned to Hamilton Field, Calif., as a B-12 pilot, he was commissioned a second lieutenant. After a short tour of duty at Hamilton he was transferred to Hawaii for a two-year tour. Reassigned to Kelly Field, he became a flight instructor in the attack section. Now a first lieutenant, he was transferred to the bombardment section to instruct in B-18s, A-17s, and Keystone bombers.
Other assignments followed at Stockton, Mather, and Moffett fields, all in California. While at Moffett he served on the staff of the assistant chief of staff for operations and training, West Coast Air Corps Training Center.
General Callish was promoted to captain in 1941, and rose through the ranks of both major and lieutenant colonel in 1942. During the same year he became the assistant chief of staff, A-3, for the Western Flying Training Command, and in 1943 he received his promotion to full colonel.
In 1944 he became chief of the pilot section, A-3, Air Training Command headquarters, Fort Worth, Texas.
In August 1945 he became a group commander in the 313th Bombardment Wing on Tinian Island. In March 1946 he moved with the 313th to Clark Field in the Philippines. In April 1947 the 313th was deactivated, and General Callish was moved to Okinawa where he became A-3 for the 1st Air Division.
He returned to the United States in November 1947 and entered the Armed Forces Staff College from which he graduated in June 1948. He was then assigned as deputy chief, Special Services Branch, Personnel Services Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. In July 1949 he became chief of the Enlisted Assignments Division, Deputy Chief of Staff/Personnel at Headquarters U.S. Air Force.
In July 1952 the general entered the National War College which he completed a short time before receiving his next assignment as commander of Ellington Air Force Base, July 21, 1953. He commanded Ellington, a navigator-training base, for five years. In August 1958 he took command of another navigator training installation, Harlingen Air Force Base, Texas.
He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in May 1959, and the following August he became commander of Mather Air Force Base and the 3535th Navigator Training Wing which operates the U.S. Air Force's only advanced radar-navigation-bombardment school.
The general is an active member of Rotary International, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee. He participates in community enterprises involving the military, and is a frequent speaker at service club and civic meetings. He participates in community enterprises involving the military, and is a frequent speaker at service clubs and civic meetings. He is a member of the Episcopal Church.
Decorations and Medals
Commendation Ribbon, Philippine Independence Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, American Defense Ribbon, American Theater Ribbon, World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Japanese Occupation Meal, Air Force Commendation Ribbon.
Bernard A.
Schriever ’31
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Air Force Gen.
Washington, DC
Gen. Bernard A. Schriever was the commander of the Air Force Systems Command and was the architect of the Air Force’s ballistic missile and military space program.
He graduated from Texas A&M in 1931 with a Bachelor of Science degree and later obtained his Masters degree in aeronautical engineering at Stanford University.
Gen. Bernard A. Schriever began his long association with the AFSC in 1954 as assistant to the commander, and with a small group of officers formed what has since become the Air Force’s ballistic and systems divisions with the end product such ballistic missiles and all the aerospace systems which have been launched into orbit.
Gen. Bernard A. Schriever passed away in 2005.
Charles S.
Hays ’32
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Army Brig. Gen.
Dallas, TX
Brig. Gen. Charles S. Hays passed away in 1966.
Travis M.
Hetherington ’32
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Air Force Brig. Gen.
San Antonio, TX
Brig. Gen Travis M. Hetherington was born in Reagan, Texas, in 1908. He entered Tyler Business College and later came to Texas A&M University. In 1929, he received a congressional appointment to the U.S. Military Academy. He graduated in 1933, 66th in a class of 347.
Brig. Gen. Travis M. Hetherington assumed command of the 39th Air Division, Japan in 1959, and two years later he became deputy chief of staff, plans and operations, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.
Brig. Gen. Travis M. Hetherington retired on August 31, 1963 and passed away on October 22, 2002.
His awards and decorations include Commendation Ribbons and the Legion of Merit.
John A.
Hilger ’32
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Air Force Brig. Gen.
Sherman, TX
Brig. Gen. John A. Hilger was born in Sherman, Texas, in 1909. He attended Texas A&M College, College Station, Texas, graduating in 1932 with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering.
Brig. Gen. John A. Hilger served as chief of staff, Allied Air Forces Northern Europe (NATO) in Oslo, Norway, and currently serves at chief of staff, Air Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M in 1932 with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering.
Brig. Gen. John A. Hilger retired November 30, 1966 and passed away on February 3, 1982.
Graber
Kidwell ’32
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Army Brig. Gen.
Dallas, TX
Brig. Gen. Graber Kidwell passed away in 1996.
Alvin R.
Luedecke ’32
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Air Force Maj. Gen.
San Antonio, TX
Maj. Gen. Alvin R. Luedecke was born at El Dorado, Texas in 1910. He graduated from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (Texas A&M University) in 1932 with a bachelor of science degree, he was commissioned a second lieutenant of Field Artillery in the Reserve Corps. 2 years later he graduated from Advanced Flying School.
The credits to his life are long: He served in World War II and became the youngest general in the armed forces when he was promoted to brigadier general at age 33. He later was promoted to major general, his rank at retirement in 1958.
Following his military career, Maj. Gen. Luedecke became the general manager of the U.S. Atomic Energy commission for almost 5 years, participating in the successful launches of Voyager and Surveyor.
In 1970, Maj. Gen. Luedecke returned to Texas A&M University as acting president following the death of Gen. Earl Rudder. He stayed on as a administrator for 8 years.
His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Distinguished Service Medal
and the Bronze Star. His foreign decorations include the Cruz de Boyaca. Republic of Colombia, the Chinese Cloud and Banner Medal and the Chinese Air Force Chien Yuan.
Maj. Gen. Alvin R. Leudecke passed away on August 9, 1998.