In Memory | Lest We Forget

DONALD W. HUFFMAN ’50    

1927 – 2025

Don Huffman died Dec. 5. He was a member of Foxtrot Company, the German Club, Scabbard and Blade, and the Omicron Delta Kappa honorary society. Additionally, Don served on the Honor Court and was a battalion commander. Between 1946 and 1947, Don left school to serve in the U.S. Army, later returning to Virginia Tech, graduating with the Class of 1950. Don attended Washington & Lee University Law School, and he later served on the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors for eight years.

 

GEORGE EDWARD STONE ’59    

1937 - 2026

Ed Stone died April 18. He was a champion marksman at Virginia Tech before graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree and then serving in the Army for 27 years. After retiring from the Army, Ed collaborated with his father in the family business, Stone Truck Equipment Company. He later founded Legacy Property, where he managed commercial properties.   

 

BRUCE GARDNER BURROUGHS ’62

1939 – 2025

Bruce Burroughs died Nov. 21. He was a member of Foxtrot Company, rising to be the commander of the unit. He was also a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa honor society and the Alpha Phi Omega service organization. Bruce served in the Army for 23 years, retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He had two postings in Germany and stateside assignments in Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Bruce also served in Vietnam, where he led the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment, Headquarters Company.

 

LEWIS INGLES “BUD” JEFFRIES ’64    

1942 – 2026

Retired U.S. Army Col. Bud Jeffries died Jan. 20. He was the regimental executive officer and Distinguished Military Graduate in the Corps of Cadets. Bud served in the Army for 27 years, including a tour in Vietnam, where he earned the Silver Star during the Tet Offensive. He retired to the family farm in Radford, where he researched the story of Mary Draper Ingles, whose story was documented in several books and outdoor dramas. Bud also served on the Corps of Cadets Board of Directors and on the New River Land Trust Board, helping others protect their land and historic properties.  

 

FRANK STALEY HESTER, Jr. ’64  

1942 – 2026

Staley Hester died April 16. He received a Bachelor of Science in accounting and was a member of Foxtrot Company. After graduation, Staley served in the U.S. Army on active duty for two years before transferring to the active reserve unit in Salem for three years. Staley became president of Hester Coal & Oil Corporation following his father’s death. He was loyal to Virginia Tech via his presence and generosity throughout his life. He was a member of the Corp of Cadets Board of Directors, and he was a member of the Hokie Club, Legacy Society, and a President’s Circle member of the Ut Prosim Society.  

 

JAMES WALTER HOPPER ’69     

1947 – 2026

Jim Hopper died March 9. While in the Corps, he was the First Group commander and a member of Gregory Guard, Scabbard and Blade, the Association of the United States Army, and German Club. Jim graduated with a degree in political science, later earning a law degree from the University of Richmond School of Law. He conducted multiple oral arguments at the United States Supreme Court, while also serving in the U.S. Army Reserve, achieving the rank of colonel. His military service included a deployment to Baghdad in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Jim served the Commonwealth of Virginia as the Deputy Attorney General and as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security.  

 

CLAUDE NAPIER, JR. ’70     

1947 – 2026

Claude Napier died Feb. 7. He was a member of Golf Company, as well as the American Society of Civil Engineers, Scabbard and Blade, and Ranger Company. Claude spent more than 20 years with the Federal Highway Administration and later served as Assistant State Structure & Bridge Engineer for the Virginia Department of Transportation. He also served over 20 years in the U.S. Army Reserve, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

 

GEORGE CURTIS CLARKE ’71

1949-2026

George Clarke died Feb. 17. He was a member of the Highty-Tighties, Ranger Company, the Association of the United States Army, and the Society of Military Engineers. He received a Bachelor of Science in nuclear engineering and later earned a master's degree in civil engineering. George served in the Army for 30 years in the Army Corps of Engineers; his service included a tour in the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and as the inspector general of the Corps of Engineers. George retired as a colonel, and he founded the successful Advanced Security Engineering Corporation specializing in homeland infrastructure security.

 

LEST WE FORGET

 

David W. St Clair ’44, Dublin, Ohio, 11/24/2025

Benjamin M. Smith ’46, Arlington, Virginia, 1/29/2026

James W. Boehling ’46, Richmond, Virginia, 1/8/2026

James D. Miller ’48, Apex, North Carolina, 12/3/2025

Clarence C. Miller ’49, Charlotte, North Carolina, 3/8/2026

Mitchell A. Byrd ’49, Williamsburg, Virginia, 3/31/2026

George B. Field ’50, Mechanicsville, Virginia, 2/8/2026

Richard J. Funk ’50, Reston, Virginia, 12/18/2025

Wayland W. Rennie ’50, Richmond, Virginia, 1/25/2026

Donald W. Huffman ’50, Roanoke, Virginia, 12/5/2025

James D. Gordon ’51, Decatur, Alabama, 3/8/2026

Frederick L. Preston ’51, Flower Mound, Texas, 3/8/2026

John R. Patteson ’51, Hardy, Virginia, 11/23/2025

James R. Brennan ’51, Marlborough, Massachusetts, 3/21/2026

Robert M. Pinkham ’51, Midlothian, Virginia, 11/18/2025

Thomas A. Tokarz ’51, Richmond, Virginia, 3/27/2026

John D. Kortheuer ’52, High Point, North Carolina, 1/4/2026

James D. Clendenen ’52, Oxnard, California, 4/5/2026

Arthur C. Doumas ’52, Southlake, Texas, 12/4/2025

Henry Clay ’52, Statesboro, Georgia, 1/5/2026

Edgar F. Dickson ’53, Henrico, Virginia, 12/7/2025

Harry M. Routh ’53, Houston, Texas, 1/20/2026

Tinsley B. Carter ’53, Memphis, Tennessee, 11/1/2025

George E. Bunce ’54, Blacksburg, Virginia, 2/10/2026

Jimmey N. Phipps ’54, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 12/17/2025

William T. Powell ’54, Lynchburg, Virginia, 11/26/2025

Robert L. Bryan ’54, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, 10/19/2025

Thomas A. Hanson ’54, Richmond, Virginia, 4/3/2026

Wayne S. Glass ’54, Roswell, New Mexico, 3/5/2026

James S. Crichton ’54, Valentines, Virginia, 10/21/2025

Samuel D. Kent ’55, Jasper, Georgia, 1/2/2026

Dudley J. Harrell ’55, Little River, South Carolina, 12/27/2025

William E. Jamerson ’56, Appomattox, Virginia, 10/19/2025

Fred K. Keller ’56, Beverly Hills, California, 1/26/2026

Edward S. Long ’56, Blacksburg, Virginia, 1/27/2026

Eugene M. Grizzard ’56, Capron, Virginia, 2/23/2026

Charles G. Moyers ’56, Charleston, West Virginia, 2/5/2026

Robert E. Ledford ’56, Clyde, North Carolina, 1/25/2026

Hugh D. Ebert ’56, Columbia, South Carolina, 10/27/2025

Richard H. Chichester ’56, Falmouth, Virginia, 3/26/2026

Richard C. Snow ’56, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 3/24/2026

James S. Sterling ’56, Hayes, Virginia, 2/4/2026

William A. Johnson ’56, Leesburg, Virginia, 4/14/2026

Wayne C. Richard ’56, Miramar Beach, Florida, 12/16/2025

Kenneth N. Howerton ’56, Portsmouth, Virginia, 11/27/2025

James B. Boyd ’56, Richlands, Virginia, 3/15/2026

Harry J. Beard ’56, Statesville, North Carolina, 2/7/2026

James M. Smith ’56, The Villages, Florida, 4/7/2026

John C. Griffith ’57, Cockeysville, Maryland, 3/9/2026

William F. Appleby ’57, Edgewater, Florida, 12/10/2025

Richard E. Seghers ’57, Kenner, Louisiana, 2/23/2026

Edward L. Bartholomew ’57, Leesburg, Virginia, 3/30/2026

Harold D. Hankins ’57, Lynchburg, Virginia, 5/11/2026

Tom N. Shattuck ’57, Middlesboro, Kentucky, 3/28/2026

Joseph R. Clark ’57, Rockville, Maryland, 2/18/2026

John F. Stevens ’57, Roseland, Virginia, 12/22/2025

Mark E. Shull ’57, Sykesville, Maryland, 4/2/2026

Jerry C. South ’57, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 3/17/2026

James R. Dinkins ’57, Yorktown, Virginia, 1/2/2026

William L. Ross ’58, Cary, North Carolina, 12/4/2025

Fred C. Newman ’58, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2/23/2026

Harry M. Gardner ’58, Cortland, New York, 1/26/2026

Everett C. Williams ’58, Franklin, Virginia, 2/12/2026

Calvin L. Adkins ’58, Gretna, Virginia, 11/13/2025

Donald G. Jennings ’58, Hamilton, Virginia, 4/4/2026

James T. Franklin ’58, Leesburg, Virginia, 3/23/2026

Carlisle R. Davis ’58, Nashville, Tennessee, 4/24/2026

Michael F. Cavelli ’58, Newport News, Virginia, 10/22/2025

Newton C. Landis ’58, Penfield, New York, 3/3/2026

James D. Lugar ’58, Roanoke, Virginia, 12/5/2025

Paul G. Black ’58, Roanoke, Virginia, 12/8/2025

Samuel J. Donley ’58, Shepherdstown, West Virginia, 3/4/2026

Robert H. Shumate ’58, Waynesboro, Virginia, 4/11/2026

James G. McGee ’59, Ashland, Virginia, 1/4/2026

Tun M. Lee ’59, Camarillo, California, 12/11/2025

William D. White ’59, Chesapeake, Virginia,11/7/2025

Lewis R. Brinkley ’59, Clifton Forge, Virginia, 4/8/2026

V. Curtis Brooking ’59, Culpeper, Virginia, 12/30/2025

George E. Stone ’59, Fairfax, Virginia, 4/18/2026

Earl S. Lucas ’59, Glen Allen, Virginia, 12/9/2025

Melvin H. Sawyer ’59, Gloucester, Virginia, 11/18/2025

George K. Frischkorn ’59, Lottsburg, Virginia, 1/31/2026

Gerald W. Armentrout ’59, Mobile, Alabama, 12/13/2025

David T. Crickenberger ’59, Roanoke, Virginia, 3/10/2026

George H. Fekas ’59, Scottsdale, Arizona, 3/4/2026

James C. Graves ’59, Syria, Virginia, 10/26/2025

Clarence L. McDearmon ’60, Appomattox, Virginia, 1/25/2026

Kenneth R. Wheeler ’60, Dayton, Ohio, 4/9/2026

Francis J. Sinibaldi ’60, Hudson, Ohio, 1/2/2026

Rolland L. Simmons ’60, Lanexa, Virginia, 12/24/2025

Charles P. Slaughter ’60, Lemont Furnace, Pennsylvania, 2/28/2026

William I. Putnam ’60, Midlothian, Virginia, 11/15/2025

Samuel G. Snow ’60, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 2/12/2026

Carlton N. Elam ’60, Powhatan, Virginia, 12/1/2025

Harrison H. Barrett ’60, Tucson, Arizona, 11/22/2025

Garrett E. Duncan ’60, Williamsburg, Virginia, 3/26/2026

David R. Harman ’60, Willis, Virginia, 1/3/2026

Harold D. Matney ’60, Yorktown, Virginia, 10/28/2025

Bobby F. Vaughan ’61, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 2/13/2026

Sam B. Shepard ’61, Midlothian, Virginia, 5/7/2026

Curt G. Spear ’61, Newport News, Virginia, 1/30/2026

William H. Durr ’61, Pasadena, Maryland, 1/11/2026

Robert A. Jarvis ’61, Pawleys Island, South Carolina, 1/3/2026

Michael S. Hollis ’61, Richmond, Virginia, 4/1/2026

Edward F. Knight ’61, Richmond, Virginia, 2/15/2026

Charles S. Thomas ’61, Richmond, Virginia, 1/6/2026

Joseph R. Durrett ’61, Richmond, Virginia, 11/16/2025

Wilton L. Coleman ’61, Roanoke, Virginia, 2/13/2026

Norris L. Powell ’61, Salem, Virginia, 3/31/2026

Frank W. Grubbs ’61, Windsor, Virginia, 12/17/2025

Stephen M. Beane ’62, Alexandria, Virginia, 2/5/2026

William K. Pruitt ’62, Boyce, Virginia, 2/18/2026

James C. Garthune ’62, Hollywood, Florida, 3/29/2026

Henry T. Marshall ’62, Kennebunk, Maine, 2/25/2026

Alfred H. Franz ’62, Ledgewood, New Jersey, 2/17/2026

Harry K. Hiers ’62, Manvel, Texas, 2/10/2026

Carleton P. Cooley ’62, Marietta, Georgia, 3/16/2026

Lloyd B. Garrett ’62, Raleigh, North Carolina, 12/19/2025

John M. Taylor ’62, Roanoke, Virginia, 2/15/2026

Bruce G. Burroughs ’62, Williamsburg, Virginia, 11/21/2025

George W. Hall ’62, Wimauma, Florida, 4/2/2026

Douglas D. Walker ’63, Advance, North Carolina, 12/17/2025

John E. Cowlbeck ’63, Bedford, Virginia, 5/5/2026

Freddie L. Spradlin ’63, Capistrano Beach, California, 2/12/2026

John P. Billingsley ’63, Mechanicsville, Virginia, 2/26/2026

Robert B. Stiles ’63, Victoria, Minnesota, 1/29/2026

Robert F. MacGregor ’63, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 3/17/2026

William M. Babb, Jr. ’64, South Bend, Indiana, 5/24/2026

Louis L. Arthur ’64, Cary, North Carolina, 11/12/2025

Roland W. Culpepper ’64, Chesapeake, Virginia, 12/18/2025

James T. Barnes ’64, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 4/12/2026

John S. Wade ’64, Hickory, North Carolina, 1/18/2026

Richard W. Lacks ’64, Kenbridge, Virginia, 10/28/2025

Lewis I. Jeffries ’64, Radford, Virginia, 1/20/2026

Frank S. Hester ’64, Salem, Virginia, 4/16/2026

Donald L. Ellerman ’64, Spring Hill, Florida, 12/1/2025

Donald R. Erickson ’64, Naples, Florida, 7/20/2025

William B. Robertson ’65, Williamsburg, Virginia, 6/2/2026

Robert C. Byrnes ’65, Alexandria, Virginia, 11/8/2025

Robert O. Bartlett ’65, Annapolis, Maryland, 4/4/2026

Herman B. Anderson ’65, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 11/1/2025

Ronald W. Wimmer ’65, Roanoke, Virginia, 11/1/2025

William J. Lunsford ’65, Wichita Falls, Texas, 12/3/2025

Donald L. Samuels ’66, Alexandria, Virginia, 1/9/2026

Joseph R. Smyth ’66, Boulder, Colorado, 1/29/2026

Henry H. Riley ’66, Harrisburg, North Carolina, 3/27/2026

Forrest T. Mullikin ’66, Leesburg, Virginia, 1/19/2026

Richard C. Olson ’66, South Bend, Indiana, 11/6/2025

William C. Ohl ’66, Tucson, Arizona, 1/29/2026

Walter A. Robinson ’66, Warrenton, Virginia, 5/8/2026

Kenworth E. Lion ’67, Bealeton, Virginia, 3/16/2026

Charles E. Woolwine ’67, Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, 1/11/2026

Daniel D. DeJarnette ’67, Gladys, Virginia, 3/3/2026

John W. Watts ’67, Keysville, Virginia, 11/22/2025

Donald C. Ellison ’67, Kingsport, Tennessee, 3/5/2026

Irving W. Boswell ’67, Melbourne, Florida, 1/14/2026

John T. Rivers ’67, Wake Forest, North Carolina, 12/8/2025

Frederick E. White ’67, West Columbia, South Carolina, 3/19/2026

Frank G. Sloop ’68, Cumming, Georgia, 10/29/2025

Richard F. Haynes ’68, Laurel, Mississippi, 2/15/2026

Roland A. Nelson ’68, Orlando, Florida, 12/4/2025

Marshall E. Cooper ’68, West Columbia, South Carolina, 5/10/2026

Wilson F. Skinner ’68, Williamsburg, Virginia, 4/17/2026

Darryl H. McGuire ’68, Mechanicsville, Virginia, 1/20/2026

Philip J. Moser ’69, Blackstock, South Carolina, 1/5/2026

David D. Armistead ’69, Chesapeake, Virginia, 3/7/2026

James W. Hopper ’69, Mechanicsville, Virginia, 3/9/2026

Wilford H. Ball ’69, Midlothian, Virginia, 12/6/2025

John J. Hartmann ’70, Henrico, Virginia, 11/13/2025

Claude S. Napier ’70, Midlothian, Virginia, 2/7/2026

Albert L. Smith ’70, Radford, Virginia, 12/12/2025

Donald A. Crismond ’71, Mount Carmel, Tennessee, 3/16/2026

James M. Harris ’71, Tazewell, Virginia, 1/7/2026

Gary L. Cline ’72, Ashburn, Virginia, 11/11/2025

Patrick G. Rose ’72, Clearwater, Florida, 10/19/2025

Craig E. Rodgers ’72, Weston, Missouri, 1/14/2026

Wilfred H. Boone ’73, Powells Point, North Carolina, 2/11/2026

Elizabeth D. Fraser ’81, Pomona, California, 12/26/2025

Hugh H. Pohle ’82, Placitas, New Mexico, 12/2/2025

Brian S. Umphlet ’87, Spotsylvania, Virginia, 1/23/2026

Bryan T. Peterson ’88, Harker Heights, Texas, 3/11/2026

Joshua C. Daas ’23, Williamsburg, Virginia, 4/19/2026