TAPS Swecker matriculated from Wytheville, Virginia, and attended VMI for one year. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He retired as a Navy captain after serving for 27 years in civil engineering, including one tour in Korea and two tours in Vietnam. Following his Navy retirement, Swecker held the position of associate vice chancellor for business affairs at UNC-Chapel Hill for 15 years. He is survived by his wife, Heather MacDonald Swecker; four sons, Capt. Mitchell Thomas Swecker, USN (Ret), and wife Kim of Corvallis, Oregon, Chris Swecker and wife Sue of Charlotte, North Carolina, Steven Lee Swecker and wife Karen of Columbus, Ohio, and Timothy Taylor Swecker of Johnson City, Tennessee; seven grandchildren, Julie, Matthew, Alex, Lauren, Ashley, Kristen and Andrew; two great-grandchildren, Bella and Beckett; a sister, Marie Flewellen and husband Bob; and a nephew, Randy Harrison.
Robert K. Waring Jr. ’50B Robert Kerr Waring Jr. ’50B of Baltimore, Maryland, died on May 1, 2011. He was 82. Waring matriculated from Palmerton, Pennsylvania, and was a Distinguished Graduate, earning a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from VMI. He was awarded the Institute’s Jackson Hope Medal, First Honor, and was on the wrestling team for three years. He earned a doctorate degree from Yale University. Waring was employed for 30 years by the E.I. DuPont de Nemours Company as a research physicist. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Robert K. Waring Sr. ’924, who died on Aug. 27, 1989; his brother, David Lane Waring; his grandfather, James M.S. Waring ’894, who died on Oct. 23, 1946; and his uncle, Mowton LeCompte Waring ’927, who died on Oct. 28, 1990. Surviving him are his wife, Judith Malin Waring; his son, Adam LeCompte Waring of New York; his daughters, Sarah Waring Mohan and Rebecca Saunders Waring, both of Baltimore, and Ann Waring Faggard (John) of Sandpoint; and his grandchildren, William, Susannah and Rose Mohan, and Nathan and Elisabeth Faggard.
Robert A. Guthans ’51 Robert Anthony Guthans ’51 of Mobile, Alabama, died on June 5, 2011. He was 82. Guthans matriculated from Mobile and
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earned a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from VMI. He served in the U.S. Army, chemical warfare, during the Korean War from 1951-53, attaining the rank of first lieutenant. After his military service, he returned to Mobile where he worked for Southern Industries Corporation as vice president of corporate development. He later served as president of B.R. Dredging Co. and retired as president and CEO of Midstream Fuel Service Inc. Active in many business and civic organizations, Guthans was a member of the board of trustees of Spring Hill College and the VMI Foundation. He was also a board member of Amsouth Bank, Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Alabama, the Industrial Development Board of Mobile, the Business Council of Alabama and the American Club. Additionally, he served as chairman of the American Waterways Operators and the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Downtown Rotary Club. Guthans was predeceased by his parents, Harold and Loretta Couvillion Guthans. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Ann Taylor Guthans; children, Robert A. Guthans Jr. (Tami), Jeanie Guthans Wilkins (Richard) and daughter-in-law, Lynn Turner Guthans; grandchildren, C. Richard Wilkins Jr., Christopher Wilkins, Michael Wilkins, Robert A. Guthans III and Taylor Lynn Guthans; sister, Gretchen Guthans Rehm; and many nieces and nephews.
Clarence E. May Jr. ’51 Clarence Edward May Jr. ’51 of Richmond, Virginia, formally of Raleigh, North Carolina, died on July 25, 2011. He was 82. May matriculated from Bridgewater, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers for three years and was on the Cadet staff for one year. May served in the U.S. Marine Corps infantry during the Korean War from 1951-55, attaining the rank of captain. He was awarded two Purple Hearts. He retired in 1984 as the eastern Virginia sales engineer with Price Brothers Pressure Pipe. May was a member of The Friends of Preston Library and The Institute Society, as well as a former VMI Alumni Association chapter president. He was predeceased by his parents, Frances and Clarence Edward May; and his first wife, Eleanor Neild May.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Lee Vinson May; daughters, Gayle May Moody, her husband, Brad, and son, Bradley, of Raleigh, North Carolina, and daughter Claire May; granddaughter, Nicole Bruno, and grandson, Mathew Bruno, of Charlotte, North Carolina; stepdaughter, Melissa V. Christian, and Mark A. Christian, Cadet Mark A. Christian Jr. ’12, Elizabeth and Katie Christian; stepson, Thomas T. Vinson III, and Thomas T. Vinson IV, Leigh Anne Vinson, Tessa Elizabeth Vinson and Kathleen Vinson; and caregiver, Sayonara Hanks.
William M. Zollman Jr. ’52 William Marshall Zollman Jr. ’52 of Roanoke, Virginia, died on June 24, 2011. He was 80. Zollman matriculated from Lexington, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers for two years. Zollman served in the U.S. Army from 195255, including 14 months in Korea, where he was awarded the Bronze Star. Before leaving the Army, he had attained the rank of first lieutenant. When his military duty was complete, he obtained the position of city engineer in Fairfax City, Virginia, and from 1961-67, served as city manager. He then joined the firm of Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern, where he remained until his retirement in 1999. He is survived by his wife, Jean Kreienbaum Zollman; daughter, Katherine Dillard and husband Edwin; granddaughters, Courtney and Leigh Dillard, all of Chattanooga, Tennessee; sisters, Mary Florence of LaJolla, California, Doris Womeldorf of Lexington, Virginia, and Jo Ann Tate of Dalton, Pennsylvania.
Thomas E. Beauchamp ’56 Col. Thomas Evan Beauchamp ’56, USA (Ret), of Palm Coast, Florida, died on Sept. 25, 2009. He was 74. Beauchamp matriculated from Castlewood, Virginia, and attended VMI for one year. He pursued further college studies at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Webster University. In the U.S. Army, he rose to the rank of full colonel, and as an aviator, flew helicopters. He served two tours in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, as well as other decorations and awards. While still active in the Army Reserve, Beauchamp served for 20 years in a civilian capacity as commanding operations officer for
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