Major General Anderson returns to campus; inspires ROTC students I
n May 1979, Rodney Anderson was one of 15 Wofford seniors who pinned on the gold bar of an Army second lieutenant during the annual Commissioning Ceremonies of the Southern Guards ROTC Battalion. This spring, 30 years later, Anderson returned to Leonard Auditorium to address the newest Army officers. This time, he wore the two silver stars of a major general. He recently had left a post as an assistant division commander in the 82nd Airborne, moving on with a promotion to the Pentagon as director of force management in the Headquarters, Department of the Army. It is a demanding and important assignment that involves managing the rotational requirements for a force that is stressed by difficult situations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. “One thing that I have learned from traveling from trouble spot to trouble spot around the world is that Americans are very blessed by every standard of measurement,” Anderson told the cadets. “But we also know that freedom and opportunities are not free. Volunteers like you who raise their hands and take the oath are paying the price. Thank you.” Anderson outlined some of the challenges that the new lieutenants will face as Army officers. “The next decades will be a time of persistent conflicts, friction and violence. To respond, the Army not only must fight when necessary, but it also must work with U.S. AID and the international community to carry out complex asMaj. Gen. Rodney Anderson ’79 with Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Joe Lesesne, signments related to interpresident emeritus of Wofford. following the annual Commissioning national stability and nation ceremonies of the Southern Guards Battalion at Wofford. building — building roads, schools and clinics, for example. “It may take a generation or more to mark such missions as accomplished, but the course we are following is the necessary and proper one. I am convinced that you are well equipped to succeed, because your college experience has combined leadership training in ROTC with a foundation in the liberal arts that helps you understand complicated situations and solve problems.” Before he spoke to the guests and attended the commissioning reception, Anderson reflected on his career in the military. Coming from the small town of Elloree, S.C., Anderson says his mother convinced him to accept a major academic scholarship and come to Wofford. “While the African-American community in Elloree was certainly supportive and nurturing to its young people, I had had few opportunities to learn much about the larger world,” he said. “Wofford bridged that gap for me. Some great teachers, such as Sgt. Maj. Kaiser Thomas and the late John Harrington, taught more than their textbooks — they spoke of making connections and relating to others. The transition from Wofford to being an Army officer was basically seamless for me.” by Doyle Boggs ’70
Jeff Hall is a field engineer for the Fortune 500 firm, Fluor Corp. Hall and his wife, Ronda, live in Dumfries, Va. Joel LeBlanc lives with his wife, Kelli, in Greenville, S.C.
1969
40th Reunion, Homecoming 2009 Class Chair, Richard L. Myers Philip Covington and his wife, Nadia, live in Berlin, Germany. Covington is a retired foreign services officer. Dr. Gene Grace is a dentist in Beaufort, S.C., where he lives with his wife, Beth. Our best wishes to Tim Remaley, who had both knees replaced within the span of a year. He wrote “Both (knees) are doing fine and I’m ready to go again.” Remaley lives in Duncan, S.C., with his wife, Monte.
1976
Reunion, Homecoming 2016 Class Chair, John W. Gandy Frank Miller and his wife, Carol, live in Savannah, Ga. Miller is a construction inspector with the City of Savannah.
1977
Reunion, Homecoming 2017 Class Chair, C. Stan Sewell Jr. Lauris Martin Eek lives in Vienna, Va. 1970 Eek is a contracting officer for the United Reunion, Homecoming 2010 States Marshals Service. Class Chair, Arthur W. Rich Donnie Hayes and his wife, Cynthia, live The Rev. Gerald “Gee” Alexander lives in in Dillon, S.C. Hayes is pursuing graduate Jacksonville, Fla., with his wife, Kimberly. studies at St. Andrews Seminary. Alexander is associate priest at All Saints Episcopal Church in Jacksonville. 1978 Reunion, Homecoming 2018 Class Chair, Richard W. Krapfel Reunion, Homecoming 2011 Living in Mobile, Ala., Joe “Buzz” Carl Class Chair, Kenneth E. Smith Jordan is an attorney with the law firm Ross The Rev. John Faris and his wife, Deb- Jordan & Gray P.C. bie, live in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. Faris retired in 2008 as chief financial officer of the 1979 Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware 30th Reunion, Homecoming 2009 and is now executive director of the Long Class Chair, Wade E. Ballard Bay Symphony in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Rebecca Compton and her husband, Tom Leclair and his wife, Lucy, live in Ross, live in Beaufort, S.C. Compton is Columbia, S.C. Leclair is senior resource a librarian/media specialist for Port Royal attorney for the Children’s Law Center, Uni- Elementary School in Port Royal, S.C. versity of South Carolina School of Law. Dr. J. Marvin McBride is senior vice
1971
1973
Reunion, Homecoming 2013 Class Chair, E. George McCoin Jr. Living in Spartanburg, James Cheek is an attorney in the Public Defender’s Office. Cheek was inducted into Community Weavers in February 2009 as part of Black History Month. Community Weavers is a program that highlights the contributions of black leaders. Steve Fulmer and his wife, Debra, live in Columbia, S.C. Fulmer is associated with the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office. Dr. Edward “Bert” Knight and his wife, Ruth, live in Spartanburg. Knight is a pulmonary/critical care specialist for the Greenville Hospital System Lung Center. Their daughter, Charlotte Covington Knight, is a member of the class of 2010.
president and chief medical officer for the health care management firm Inspiris Inc. McBride lives in Raleigh, N.C., with his wife, Ann.
1980
Reunion, Homecoming 2010 Class Chair, Paul D. Kountz Jr. Burgess “Buck” Harmon and his wife, Dianne, live in Manning, S.C. Harmon is petroleum market manager for Tucker Oil Co. in Columbia, S.C. Jack Jackson is editor for No Moss KK, a Japanese-to-English translation firm specializing in financial publications. Jackson and his wife, Nancy, live in Huntersville, N.C. A financial advisor for Smith Barney, Robert Jones lives in Santa Fe, N.M., with his wife, Anne. Living in Palatka, Fla., Joe Pickens is president of St. Johns River Community 1974 College. Reunion, Homecoming 2014 Matt Rauschenbach lives in WashingClass Chair, Jerry L. Calvert ton, N.C., and is chief financial officer Vernon Hyman and his wife, Denise, for the city. live in Aiken, S.C. Hyman is associated with the Washington Division of URS, an 1982 engineering, construction and technical Reunion, Homecoming 2012 services organization. Class Chair, J. Madison Dye Jr. The Rev. Dr. Robert Winburn was Leah DesChamps Leonhardt, a thirdguest minister at Ehrhardt Baptist Church grade teacher at Buffalo Elementary School in Bamberg, S.C., for the church’s 100th in Union, S.C., was named the school’s anniversary celebration. Winburn is pas- Teacher of the Year for 2008-09. Leah’s tor of Spring Valley Baptist Church in husband, Kenneth Leonhardt, is a supervisor Columbia, S.C. He and his wife, Linda, for BMW of North America. The couple live in Elgin, S.C. lives in Union, S.C.
1975
Reunion, Homecoming 2015 Class Chair, John O. Moore
The Honorable Richard B. Abernethy
16 • Wofford Today • Summer 2009
In April 2009 The Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, S.C., announced that Janet Wells Scarborough has been hired as director of finance and administration. She will provide operational guidance as well as financial forecasting and management. Scarborough and her husband, George, live in Charleston.
lives in Gastonia, N.C. Abernethy is a district court judge. The Rev. Dr. Paul Greeley and his wife, Sharon, live in Mount Pleasant, S.C. John Riddick is senior vice president of Tidelands Bank in Bluffton, S.C. Riddick and his wife, Debra, live in Mount Pleasant, S.C.
1983
Reunion, Homecoming 2013 Class Chair, W. Scott Gantt Russell Cook is president of the business consulting firm 4e Ventures LLC. Cook and his wife, Gloria, live in Chapin, S.C. Beverly Jones lives in Spartanburg. Jones is senior assistant public defender of the Seventh Judicial Circuit for Spartanburg County.