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.
John W.
White ’32
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Air Force Maj. Gen.
Uvalde, TX
Maj. Gen. John W. White attended Texas A&M University, he was class of 1932.
He served as commander of the Air Force Special Weapons center at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.
Before his past appointment, he served as assistant for special weapons and commander of the 3079th Aviation Depot Wing in the Air Force Logistics Command at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit for his performance of duty at Iceland Defense Force.
Maj. Gen. John W. White passed away in 1992.
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.
David O.
Williams, Jr. ’46
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Air Force Brig. Gen.
Austin, TX
Brig. Gen. David O. Williams, Jr. was chief of staff at U.S. Taiwan Defense Command with headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Previously, he served as deputy director for operational test and evaluation, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.
His military awards and decorations include the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
Brig. Gen. David O. Williams, Jr. retired from his military career and resided in Austin, TX. He passed away on August 18, 2019.
Charles Lowry
Wilson ’46
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Air Force Maj. Gen
Switzerland
General Wilson was born in 1924, in Paris, Texas. He graduated from Paschal High School, Forth Worth, Texas, in 1942 and attended Texas A&M University for one year. In May 1944, he graduated from aviation cadet flying training as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps.
He then served 18 months in the Southwest Pacific as a C-47/C-46 pilot and operations officer with the 403d Troop Carrier Group. He left active duty in August 1946 and become a member of the organized reserve at Hensley Field, Dallas, Texas, where he was an active flier for four years while attending Southern Methodist University. He graduated from SMU in 1950 with two bachelor's degrees, one in science (mechanical engineering) and the other a double major in business administration (statistics and industrial production management).
In May 1951, during the Korean war, he was called to active duty for 21 months as operations officer with the 443d Troop Carrier Group, Donaldson Air Force Base, S.C. Soon after his return to inactive duty, he accepted a regular Air Force commission on Aug. 3, 1953, and then served four years with the U.S. Air Forces in Europe as a group and wing operations officer in the 465th and 317th troop carrier wings.
After one year in the Class of '58 at Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., he served two years as a plans officer at Headquarters 1st Missile Division, Strategic Air Command, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. From July 1961 to July 1963, he was a graduate student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Cambridge, Mass., where he received a master of science degree in aeronautics and astronautics.
General Wilson next served two years as an astronautical engineer and plans officer in the Directorate of Plans at Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. He then attended the U.S. Army War College in the Class of '66 at Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
In July 1966 he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., as chief, Strategic and Defense Branch, Directorate of Command Control and Communications. He later served two years in the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as chief, Systems Division, Joint Command Control Requirements Group.
In July 1970, he left Washington and began a four-year tour of duty in Air Force Systems Command. First he served a year in Los Angeles, Calif., as deputy commander of the Air Force Satellite Control Facility in the Space and Missile Systems Organization, then spent 10 months at Bedford, Mass., as vice commander, Electronic Systems Division, L.G. Hanscom Field. In May 1972 he moved to Andrews Air Force Base, Md., as the inspector general in Headquarters Air Force Systems Command; then in September 1972, he became chief of staff for procurement and production, and responsible for procurement policy and guidance for 5,600 personnel handling annual contract awards of more than $6.5 billion.
In August 1974, General Wilson assumed duties as chief, Special Project Office, Static War Headquarters, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Belgium, where for almost four years he was directly responsible to the chief of staff for coordinating and managing a $100 million international project for acquisition of a new protected underground command center for SHAPE. He assumed his present duty as vice commander of the Acquisition Logistics Division, AFLC, in May 1978.
His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Presidential Unit Citation Emblem and the Missileman Badge. He is a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours.
He was promoted to the grade of major general effective May 1, 1975, with a date of rank of July 1, 1972.
Stephen W.
Wilson ’81
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Air Force Gen.
Montgomery, AL
Gen. Stephen W. “Seve” Wilson is Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. As Vice Chief, he presides over the Air Staff and serves as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Requirements Oversight Council and Deputy Advisory Working Group. He assists the Chief of Staff with organizing, training, and equipping of 660,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas.
Gen. Wilson received his commission from Texas A&M University in 1981. He’s had multiple flying tours, and led bomber; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; mobility; aeromedical evacuation; and airborne command and control operations supporting Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. Gen. Wilson has also held numerous command positions, including the Joint Functional Component Commander for Global Strike and Air Force Global Strike Command. Gen. Wilson is a command pilot with more than 4,500 flying hours and 680 combat hours. Prior to his current assignment, the general was Deputy
Ralph H.
Wooten ’16
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Air Force Maj. Gen.
Memphis, TN
Ralph Hudson Wooten was born at Independence, Miss., in 1893. He graduated from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (Texas A&M) with a bachelor of science degree in 1916.
On Aug. 8, 1917, he was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry in the Regular Army and that same date was promoted to first lieutenant. His first assignment was at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and in November 1917 he transferred to Camp Greene, N.C., for service with the 59th Infantry.
In January 1918 he began ground school training at the School of Military Aeronautics at Austin, Texas, and later transferred to Kelly Field, Texas, where he completed his flight training in July 1918. He then served as a flight instructor at Love Field, Texas, until November of that year when he was transferred to Brindley Field, Long Island, N.Y. After a short tour of duty at that station, he went to Ellington Field, Texas and in May 1919 became acting air officer of the Hawaiian Department, with headquarters at Fort Shafter.
On July 1, 1920, he transferred to the Air Service and that same date was promoted to captain.
Returning to the United States in July 1922, he became post adjutant at Langley Field, Va. He entered the Air Service Tactical School at Langley Field in October 1923 and after graduating the following June was assigned to the Supply Division in the Office of the Chief of Air Service at Washington. He later became chief of Materiel Procurement and Transportation in that office. In July 1928 he was transferred to Fort Crockett, Texas, for duty as an operations officer of the Third Attack Group.
A year later he went to Santiago, Chile, as military attache. During this tour of duty he received the official commendation of the State Department for his cooperation in seeking two lost foreign planes. He also made a number of flights over unexplored and uncharted routes in the southern part of South America, including Patagonia and Tierre del Fuego.
In July 1933 he returned to the United States to take the two-year course at the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. After graduating in 1935, he served with General Headquarters Air Force at Langley Field, Va. In August 1936 he entered the Army War College at Washington, and following graduating in 1937 remained in Washington for service in the Operations and Training Division of the War Department General Staff.
In August 1938 he was again appointed Military Attache to Chile and Bolivia, with station at Santiago, Chile. While serving in this capacity, he was commended for his part in rescue work following the devastating earthquakes in southern Chile in 1939. He also served as a representative of the U.S. Government during important conferences with other countries on defense plans for the Western Hemisphere.
In July 1941 he returned to Washington for duty in the Military Intelligence Division of the War Department General Staff. The following September he was appointed air officer with General Headquarters of the Army at Washington.
In March 1942 he was assigned to the Army Air Force Technical Training Command, with station at Miami Beach, Fla., where he organized and commanded technical training activities including the Air Corps Officer Candidate School, Air Corps Officer Training School, Basic Training centers numbers Four and Nine, and the Civilian Mechanic Training schools in that area.
In January 1943 he went to the Caribbean Air Command as commanding general of the Sixth Air Force Service Command and as chief of staff of the Sixth Air Force. He assumed command of the Sixth Air Force the following September, and in May 1944 was designated commanding general of the U.S. Army Forces in the South Atlantic.
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Major General Ralph Hudson Wooten (ASN: 0-6649), United States Army Air Forces, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding General of the U.S. Army Forces in the South Atlantic from May 1944 to October 1945. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Wooten and his dedicated contributions in the service of his country reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.
He returned to the United States in January 1946 for duty in the Office of the Foreign Liquidation Commission of the State Department at Washington.
In April 1947 he was appointed commanding general of the Seventh Air Force at Hickam Field, Hawaii, and remained in that position when the Seventh was redesignated Pacific Air Command the following December.
General Wooten has been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal. His foreign decorations include "Orden el Merito" in the grades of Official, Cemmendador and Gran Official (Chile); Orden del Merito Militar (Cuba); Condecoracion "abdon Calderon" (Ecuador); "Orden de Boyaca" in the grade of Gran Official (Colombia); and "Orden Militar de Ayacucho" (Peru).
He is rated a command pilot, combat observer and aircraft observer. He retired from the United States Air Force on September 30, 1948.
Robert F.
Worden ’33
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Air Force Maj. Gen.
Washington, D.C.
Maj. Gen. Robert F. Worden graduated from Texas A&M University in 1933 with a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering.
He was the deputy director of plans, Deputy Chief of Staff, plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. Before his previous position, General Worden served as chief of staff, U.S. Taiwan Defense Command, Taipei, Taiwan, Pacific Air Force.
Maj. Gen. Robert F. Worden passed away in 2005.
Christopher F.
Yancy ’88
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Air Force Brig. Gen.
Brig. Gen. Christopher F. Yancy is the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Second Air Force, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. He is responsible for the development, oversight and direction of all operational aspects of Basic Military Training, initial skills training and advanced technical training for the Air Force enlisted force, non-rated operations and support officers. Second Air Force provides training in more than 265 Air Force specialties through 2,014 courses graduating 150,000 Airmen, soldiers, sailors, Marines and international students annually in diverse areas including aircraft maintenance, civil engineering, medical, cyber, avionics, security forces, space and missile operations/maintenance and multiple intelligence disciplines. The command includes training wings at Keesler AFB, Sheppard and Goodfellow AFB, Texas, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, a training group at Vandenberg AFB, California, and 103 operating locations around the world. Second Air Force also oversees all Air Force Airmen throughout the Joint Expeditionary Tasking/Individual Augmentee training pipeline at several Army training sites across the country.
General Yancy entered the Air Force in 1988 as a distinguished ROTC graduate from Texas A&M University. He served 11 years in the regular Air Force as an F-16 pilot in Air Combat Command and U.S. Air Forces Europe. He joined the Air Force Reserve in 1999 and has held various command positions at the squadron, group and wing level. His combat experience includes nine deployments in operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Southern Watch and Northern Watch; multiple operations in the former Yugoslavia; and Expeditionary Fighter Squadron Command in South Korea.
General Yancy is a command pilot with more than 3,900 flying hours, including 3,800 hours in the F-16 Block 30+, 40, 50 and 50+ as well as 15+ years of joint/partner programmatic, test and development experience in the F-35. In his previous assignment, he served as the Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Plans, Programs and Analyses for Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
Edward P.
Yarish ’83
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Air Force Maj. Gen
Centreville, VA
Maj. Gen. Edward P. Yarish is the mobilization assistant to the Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He assists the commander in supporting the six AFMC Centers to develop and execute policies and programs that affect the delivery of war-winning capabilities, especially those necessary in meeting mobilization, emergency, and wartime operations.
General Yarish was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program in 1983. While on active duty, he was assigned to the Small ICBM Propulsion Division, Ballistic Missile Office, Norton AFB, California, managing the acquisition, development and test of several sub-systems. He joined the Air Force Reserve in 1990 with the 56th Aerial Port Squadron, March Air Reserve Base, Calif. As commander, the unit received the 1997 Reserve Unit of the Year Award.
General Yarish served on the Air Staff working transportation, congressional and strategic planning issues. He also served on the Joint Staff, and deployed as Current Operations Director for the Central Command Deployment and Distribution Operations Center in Southwest Asia, directing joint logistics for operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. In his civilian professional capacity, he is a program development director for a defense systems company based in northern Virginia.
Paul L.
Carroll, Jr. ’58
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Air National Guard Brig. Gen.
Bryan, TX
Paul L. Carroll, Jr. was Commander of the 144th Fighter Interceptor Wing in the California Air National Guard. He was promoted to Brig. Gen. in January 1988. He is married to Carolyn Carroll. While at Texas A&M, he studied Personnel Administration.
Charles E.
Foster ’81
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Air National Guard Brig. Gen.
Eagle River, AK
Brigadier General Charles E. Foster is Commander, 176th Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. He is responsible to articulate a vision, set goals and objectives, develop leaders and provide a healthy and equitable environment in which 176th personnel may serve. He oversees recruiting, retention and training of more than 1,500 Air Guard members, as well as operational and maintenance control of twelve airlift C-130H, four rescue HC-130(H)N and six rescue HH-60G airframes for in-state and worldwide deployment. General Foster is responsible for the Alaska Air National Guard's first classic association, operating eight C-17 airlifters; and first active association, operating the wing's C-130H aircraft, both in partnership with the 3rd Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Additionally, as directed by the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 2005, General Foster is leading the closure of Kulis Air National Guard Base in Anchorage, Alaska.
General Foster received his commission in 1981, as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Texas A&M University. Prior to appointment as the wing commander, General Foster served in numerous assignments to include flying, operations and support functions, including command positions at the squadron and group level. Since joining the Alaska Air National Guard in 1990, General Foster has deployed five times to combat zones, including tours in Operations Southern Watch, Northern Watch and Enduring Freedom. In 2003, he became the first 210th Rescue Squadron Commander to lead the squadron (composed of six HH-60G helicopters, four HC-130 rescue/tanker aircraft, and a pararescue team of 30 enlisted and eight combat rescue officers) in combat operations. As an HH-60 Pilot, Search and Rescue Director and Rescue Control Center Controller, he is personally credited with helping save more than 200 lives.
John J.
Roark ’53
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Air National Guard Brig. Gen.
Dallas, TX
Brig. Gen. John J. Roark had been active in various aspects of urban development for almost 50 years and has been a leader in civil engineering, urban transportation, system design, and commercial development.
He completed ROTC training at Texas A&M University as a Distinguished Military Student and commissioned second lieutenant.
His most recent military service was as Deputy Commander of the Texas Air National Guard.
Brig. Gen. John J. Roark is currently retired and resides in Dallas, TX.
Oscar B.
Abbott ’13
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Army Brig. Gen.
San Antonio, TX
Brigadier General Oscar Bergstrom Abbott, Class of 1913, attended Texas A&M to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. He served in both WWI and WWII. From 1942-44, Abbott served at the Headquarters of Services of Supply and from 1944-46, he was commandant of Camp Beale. In 1949, Col. Abbott served as the Executive Officer for the Texas Military District. He retired in 1950. Gen. Abbott passed away October 1, 1969 and is buried in the Anchor Masonic Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.
Herman M.
Ainsworth ’19
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Army Maj. Gen.
Luling, TX
H. Miller Ainsworth's long and distinguished military career began with his attendance at Officer's Training Camp, Leon Springs, Texas, May 8, 1917, where he was commissioned second lieutenant of Infantry, Officer's Reserve Corps, August 14, 1917. He served in World War I with the 159th Infantry, 40th Division. Upon the reorganization of the 36th Division after World War I, Lieutenant General Ainsworth was commissioned captain of infantry, April 27th, 1922 and assigned to Company L, 141st Infantry, Luling, Texas. He entered active federal service November 25, 1940 as lieutenant colonel. He participated in the landing at Salerno Beach in September 1943. He received the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action on September 13, 1943.
He left active service in 1946 as a colonel and was appointed assistant division commander of the 36th Infantry Division. In 1948 he was appointed division commander, a post he was to hold with distinction until his retirement in 1953. He was appointed brigadier general of the line September 27, 1948; promoted to major general of the line October 17, 1949. He performed short tours of active military service over the period May 1949 to August 1951, as a member of the War Department General Staff Committee on National Guard Policy. Upon the establishment of the Fourth Army Civilian Components Advisory Group, General Ainsworth was appointed a member. He was given the rank of brevet lieutenant general upon retirement. He died May 7, 1969.
George H.
Akin ’56
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Army Maj. Gen.
Fort Worth, TX
Maj. Gen. George H. Akin was born March 26, 1934, in Henrietta and graduated from Texas A&M in 1956. Upon commissioning from Texas A&M as a second lieutenant, he served in the U.S. Army for 35 years. His military tours included serving in Germany, Vietnam, Turkey and Korea. He attended the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa., and received his MBA from Babson College in Needham, Mass. When he retired from the U.S. Army, he was the commanding general for the U.S. Army Test & Evaluation Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Moving to Fort Worth, he was associated with Freese & Nichols, Inc. He was inducted in the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps Hall of Fame, received an honorary doctorate degree from Babson College and was recognized as an outstanding alumnus from Lowry May College and Graduate School of Business, Texas A&M University. He was the recipient of numerous military awards, including the Combat Infantryman's Badge, Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters and the Bronze Star. Maj. Gen. George H. Akin retired and resided in Fort Worth, TX. He passed away in 2009.
Roderick R.
Allen ’15
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Army Maj. Gen.
Washington, DC
Maj. Gen. Roderick R. Allen passed away in 1970.
Theodore H.
Andrews ’38
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Army Brig. Gen.
Austin, TX
Brig. Gen. Theodore H. Andrews passed away in 2002.
Dionel E.
Aviles ’53
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Army Maj. Gen.
Houston, TX
Dr. Dionel E. Avilés '53 received bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in Civil Engineering in 1954, 1961 and 1966, respectively. Avilés served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and later furthered his education at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. In 1981, he founded Avilés Engineering Corp. which has been instrumental in projects such as Houston’s Minute Maid Park, Reliant Stadium, and Bush Intercontinental Airport. Avilés has volunteered his time to Texas A&M, serving on the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, Corps of Cadets Development Council, the Texas A&M Hispanic Network and the President’s Board of Visitors. He was awarded with The Association of Former Students Distinguished Alumni Award.
Walter O.
Bachus ’50
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Army Brig. Gen.
Alexandria, VA
At Texas A&M: Corps of Cadets Regimental Headquarters Sixth Veterans operations officer and Company C Veterans.
U.S. Army Air Corps enlisted communications specialist in France in World War II. Civil service employee in Germany until he returned to Tyler. Was 3rd Platoon Leader, A Company, 13th Engineer Combat Battalion of the 7th Infantry Division during Korean War; landings included Inchon. Retired in 1978 as brigadier general and director of facilities engineering in the office of the Chief of Engineers in Washington, D.C., with more than 30 years of service.
Registered professional engineer. Was executive director of Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) for 15 years (October 1978-June 1993), then retired fully.
Two time recipient of SAME Gold Medal (1974, 1992) for leadership skills in support of SAME mission. Medal renamed Walter O. Bachus Gold Medal in 2005 in his honor.
Survivors: wife of 67 years, Helen; two children.
For more information, visit tx.ag/WOBachus50.
Darrel P.
Baker ’62
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Army Maj. Gen.
Breckenridge, CO
Brigadier General Baker graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Agriculture Education and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant upon completion of the ROTC program at Fort Sill. Later, he was assigned to the 1/81st Armored Battalion, 1st Armored Division at Fort Hood as Battalion Communication Officer.
After being discharged from active duty, he served the local Austin high schools as a biology teacher, assistant principal and principal of Anderson High School and later Crockett High School.
Some of his awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with silver oak leaf cluster, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and the National Defense Service medal with a star.
Maj. Gen. Darrel P. Baker retired on July 31, 2000 and currently resides in Breckenridge, CO.
Wilman D.
Barnes ’51
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Army Brig. Gen.
Falls Church, VA
General Wilman D. Barnes was born in Goodman, Texas, and grew up in Abilene, Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1951 and received a master's degree in personnel management from George Washington University in 1972.
He served in the Army from 1951 to 1981 and was employed by Computer Sciences Corporation from 1981 to 1993. As a career infantry officer, General Barnes commanded units from platoon to brigade size and served as assistant division commander of the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea.He also was commanding general of the First ROTC Region at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; deputy director of operations in the office of the joint chiefs of staff; and, in his final assignment, deputy commanding general of the Army Military Personnel Center.
His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star. He served in Europe, South Korea, South Vietnam and the Dominican Republic.
Brig. Gen. Wilman D. Barnes resided in Falls Church, VA and passed away in 2004.
William A.
Becker ’41
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Army Maj. Gen.
Kaufman, TX
A Kaufman County native, Bill Becker was born on his family homestead April 2,1919. He graduated from Kaufman High School in 1936. He later attended Texas A&M College, where he was a member of the 1939 ROTC national championship pistol team, and also a member of the four-man horse show team. He was junior editor of the yearbook and was elected senior editor but resigned to serve as cadet corps commander during his senior year. Upon graduation in 1941, he was given a diploma, a commission as 2nd Lieutenant of field artillery, and orders to report within eight days to the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Bliss, Texas. Maj. Gen. Becker was sent to fight in the Southwest Pacific Theater during WWII, and in four years, he advanced from the rank of 2nd Lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel. Upon return from WWII he was assigned to the military staff at Texas A&M during which time he met the love of his life and wife of over 55 years, Frances Carlyle. He also served in Vietnam as Assistant Division Commander of the 1st Cavalry Division (AIRMOBILE). What began as a military career on horseback concluded in a helicopter as a rated pilot. Over his 30-year career he had a variety of other commands and assignments. His last active duty assignment was to the Pentagon with the Office of the Secretary of the Army, as Chief of Legislative Liaison, working with the United States Congress from 1968-1971. During his years of service he was twice awarded the Distinguished Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters. Upon retirement from the Army, Bill returned to his home community with his wife, Fran, and their four children where he established a real estate brokerage and enjoyed cattle ranching on his beloved Becker farm. He continued his dedication to service to his community, county and country through numerous civic organizations and appointments. Above all else, he valued his role as husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend. Bill is preceded in death by his wife Frances Becker. He is survived by his children William Becker of Terrell and wife Jennifer, daughter Anne Becker Tolbert and husband Jerry of Woodville, son Christopher Becker of Becker and wife Gay, daughter Kimberly Becker Barnett of Rowlett and husband Keith, and sister Ellen Dodson of Texarkana and husband Ed, Arkansas. He was blessed with eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. During a special ceremony in Kemp, Texas US Congressman Jeb Hensarling presented General Becker with remarks from the Congressional Record honoring him for his service. "President Calvin Coolidge once said the Nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten. As a veteran, Gen. Becker understands that better than most Americans. It is because of his service that we are able to enjoy the many blessings that God has bestowed upon this great land, the United States of America."
James G.
Boatner ’50
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Army Maj. Gen.
Fort Belvoir, VA
Jim Boatner was born on March 28, 1930 in Tianjin, China where his father was stationed with the United States Army's 15th Infantry. The son, grandson, and father of career infantry officers, he grew up on Army posts and in military towns in the depression era and during World War II. He graduated from high school in San Antonio, Texas, and attended Texas A&M University before entering West Point in 1947.
Upon graduating in 1951, he was commissioned in the infantry and served in combat during the Korean War, returning to the historic 15th Infantry ("Old China Hands') as a company commander. Years later, after retiring from the Army, he proudly served for four years as the Honorary Colonel of the 15th Infantry Regiment.
On the luckiest day of his life, Jim met Kathryn "Kay" Schroeter of Cleveland, Ohio, on a blind date, and they were married in Dallas, Texas, in 1954.
His troop assignments were primarily with light infantry units, including in both the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions. In 1958, he attended Harvard University earning two Master's Degrees in preparation for teaching back at West Point in the Social Sciences Department. In 1967, he trained and then deployed a light infantry battalion to Vietnam. During his career, General Boatner also had extensive experience in Washington, DC, serving as an assistant to the deputy Secretary of Defense, David Packard.
His notable general officer assignments were commanding all Army forces in Alaska, including the 172nd Arctic Light Infantry Brigade, and US Commander in West Berlin just before the end of the Cold War. He retired in 1986 with 35 years of service.
For 14 years after his military retirement, Jim was President and then Chairman of the Board of Robinson Terminal Warehouse Corporation in Old Town, Alexandria, the Washington Post's newspaper warehousing facility.
He and Kay were also longtime active parishioners of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Mount Vernon where he served on the social justice committee, and volunteered as a mentor and advocate for low-income mental health patients. He was also a proud member of the West Point class of 1951, regularly attending monthly District of Columbia-area luncheons and leading the planning for the class 60th reunion in May 2011.
Jim was predeceased by his loving wife of over 62 years, Kay, in March 2017. He is survived by his five children, son, Jim (Nancy) of Clifton, Virginia, son, Tom (Lisa) of Boise, Idaho, son, Mike (Tricia) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, daughter, Jane (Dudley) and son, Peter (Anne) of Charlottesville, Virginia; as well as nine grandchildren.
Jack T.
Brown ’37
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Army Brig. Gen.
Rockport, TX
Jack Tyre Brown was born on September 11, 1915 in Luling, Texas. He studied Agricultural Administration while at Texas A&M. He was married to Mary Kathryn Glass. He passed away on June 14, 1993 in Rockport, Texas.
James K. "Red"
Brown ’80
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Army Maj. Gen.
Lindale, TX
Major General James K. Brown, Jr. currently serves as Commander, 36th Infantry Division, Texas Army National Guard. He commands and controls the division's headquarters and six major subordinate commands. He also serves as the principal advisor to the Adjutant General and Army Commander, Texas Military Forces on employment of the division on state and federal missions.
James K. “Red” Brown received his commission in the United States Army in May of 1980 from the ROTC program at Texas A&M University. Maj. Gen. Brown is a graduate of the Armor Officer Basic and Advance Courses, Combined Arms Staff Services School, the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. He holds a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies.
He is a career Armor officer who has commanded line units at the company, battalion and brigade level. In addition to his command tours, key assignments for COL Brown include Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil Military Affairs (G5) in Bosnia-Herzegovina during Stabilization Force Seven and Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (G3) of the 49th Armored Division for three years.
As a Colonel, General Brown commanded the 56th Brigade Combat Team during Operation Iraqi Freedom III from January through December of 2005. His combat brigade was comprised of 6 Battalions with 31 companies and over 4000 Soldiers. Maj. Gen. Brown’s brigade conducted convoy escort and route security missions throughout Iraq.
Maj. Gen. Brown’s military awards include the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge awarded in Iraq, the Legion of Merit, six Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals and numerous other awards. He has twice been awarded the Draper Leadership Award from the United States Army Armor Association and has been admitted into the Order of Saint George from the Armor Association and the Order of Saint Barbour from the Artillery Association.
Maj. Gen. James K. Brown is the President and Managing Partner of Texas Water Systems, a private water utility company in Tyler, Texas. He is the President of the Lindale Independent School District Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Lindale Economic Development Corporation, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of East Texas, the Independent Water and Sewer Contractors of Texas, and the Lindale Area Chamber of Commerce.
Maj. Gen. Brown and his wife Jane have three daughters, 1LT Crystal Brown, Kimberly, and Hannah. Maj. Gen. Brown is currently assigned to Forces Command.
Andrew D.
Bruce ’16
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Army Lt. Gen.
Southern Pines, NC
Lt. Gen. Andrew D. Bruce received a bachelor’s degree in Dairy Science in 1916 and an honorary L.L.D. in 1946. He served 37 years in the U.S. Army seeing action in World Wars I and II. He entered the service as Second Lieutenant and rose to Lieutenant General. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
In 1966, Andrew D. Bruce retired as Chancellor of the University of Houston System after seven years of service. Under his leadership, the University of Houston achieved accreditation, strengthened its faculty, expanded its facilities, raised its academic standards, and won state support.
Lt. Gen. Andrew D. Bruce passed away in 1969.
Spencer J.
Buchanan ’25
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Army Brig. Gen.
College Station, TX
Brig. Gen. Spencer J. Buchanan passed away in 1982.