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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly May '90
Gilbert Stewart Harper, Jr. No. 15342 Class of 1946
Died 12 July 1982 in Enid, Oklahoma, aged 60 years
Interment: Enid, Oklahoma
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Gilbert Stewart Harper, Jr., affectionately known
by family and friends as "Stew," was born on 7 February
1922 in Reform, Alabama. His hometown was small, but his aspirations
were great, spawned from a rich and proud family heritage and
fueled by hard work in search of excellence in sports, academics
and music. Twice a week his mother would drive him 60 miles to
Birmingham for violin lessons. After graduating from high school
in Reform, Alabama, Stew attended Marion Military Institute,
Marion, Alabama, for one year. He then attended Birmingham-Southern
College, and the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. During
this period he was a student at the Birmingham Conservatory of
Music and was a member of the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
His hard work earned him a full scholarship to the famed Juilliard
School of Music, but instead he elected to enter West Point in
1943. When asked why he chose a military career rather than music,
Stew would joke that he finally found out how little money violinists
made.
Stew is remembered by his classmates as one of
the "spooniest" cadets in the Corps. He was the epitome
of' the true southern gentleman. An academic star man, he was
also a cheerleader and director of the Cadet Glee Club. In addition
to being involved in many other clubs and activities, he was
able to continue with the violin in the Cadet Orchestra. One
of his roommates recalls that his practice sessions with the
violin were never much appreciated.
Stew received his wings during June Week and was
commissioned into the Army Air Corps. His transition training
into multi-engine aircraft was at Vance Field, Enid, Oklahoma.
It was there that he met and married Beverly Joan Young.
After initial assignments in the United States,
Stew commanded a B-29 squadron in the 307th Bomber Wing during
the Korean War. After Korea, he served in the Strategic Air Command
headquarters at Offut Air Force Base, Nebraska. He played a key
role in the automation of SAC command and control and in the
development of SAC strategy in the nuclear era. His last active
duty assignment was SAC liaison officer to Massachusetts Institute
of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory at Hanscom Field, Massachusetts.
Stew left active duty after 14 years to join International
Telephone and Telegraph in New Jersey. He remained in the Air
Force Reserve serving with the Air Force Systems Command and
finally as the mobilization designee to the Twenty-third Air
Force, retiring as a brigadier general in1981. He was a graduate
of both the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the Air
War College. His military awards include the Legion of Merit
with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star, the Soldier's Medal,
the Air Medal and three Air Force Commendation Medals.
In 1964, Stew transferred from IT&T to Sperry
Rand on Long Island, New York, where he worked on guidance systems
for the Polaris program. In 1967 he joined Computer Sciences
Corporation (CSC), opening their New York City office. He later
moved to Huntsville, Alabama, as CSC's director of southeast
operations. He and Joan lived in Saigon, South Vietnam from 1971-74
where he worked for CSC as the director of operations for the
development of management information systems for selected government
of South Vietnam organizations.
Stew resigned from CSC in 1975 to become the manager
of the water services and development division of Koering Company
in Galveston, Texas. When faced with the dilemma of a promotion
in Koering at the expense of his Air Force Reserve affiliation,
he chose to move to Enid, Oklahoma, to manage his personal investments
and continued to serve with the Air Force until his retirement
in 1981. He died of a heart attack on 12 July 1982. He is survived
by his wife Joan, daughter Nancy, son Gilbert (USMA 1970) and
six grandchildren.
At the time of my father's death, I offered to
write this memorial. I found the challenge overwhelming for I
could not adequately communicate the love and respect shared
by his family and friends. Time has not healed the loss, but
it made me realize that any effort will be insufficient and those
close to him will understand. He was a perfectionist yet a loving
and caring man with a great sense of humor. He instilled in his
children a sincere love of God and a true under-standing of duty,
honor, and country. These values are lived daily by his wife,
children and grandchildren, and will be passed on to generations
to come.
His son, Gilbert S. Harper,
LTC, US Army
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