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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Jul '99
Willis Ervin Schug, Jr. * '46
No. 15434 * 20 Jun 1924 - 14 Jun 1998
Died in Perry Point, MD * Inurned in West Point Cemetery, West
Point, NY
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Willis Ervin Schug was born and raised in Easton,
PA. An excellent student and outstanding athlete at Easton High
School, Will graduated in 1940 before his 16th birthday. He attended
the University of Pittsburgh for 2 1/2 years before gaining his
appointment to West Point. He joined the Class of 1946 on the
banks of the Hudson on 1 July 1943.
Will found cadet life right up his alley. He did
well academically, had no problems with the Tacs and enjoyed
playing on the baseball team. He graduated a second lieutenant
in the Quartermaster Corps.
He married June Curtis four days after graduation
on 8 June 1946 at Easton, PA. After basic schooling at then Camp
Lee, VA, Later, he became Aide de Camp to the CG and coached
the Camp Lee baseball team to the VA semi-pro championship. Will
was selected to attend Ohio State University where he gained
a Masters Degree in Public Administration in 1948. His next assignment
was to Germany. In 1951, Will was selected to attend Columbia
University where he gained his LLB in 1954. He was then automatically
transferred to the Judge Advocate General Corps. This was followed
by tours in The Pentagon, Korea and the Military District of
Washington before serving in the Law Department at West Point
from 1957 to 1960. From West Point, the Schugs served in Germany
before Will went to Vietnam as Staff Judge Advocate of the 4th
Infantry Division. Returning to the States, Will served at Fort
Devens, MA. He retired in 1968 as a LTC.
Will's first position in civilian life was as Dean
of Students and Professor of Military Law at Columbia University.
Classmate and friend, Ed Saunders, recalled this period in Will's
life: "Will's time at Columbia Law School coincided with
the student tumult taking place in universities throughout the
country. The Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) were especially
active at Columbia. Will used to say he was 'Dean in Charge of
Riots'. An incident illustrates both Will's toughness and temper.
An element of SDS had blocked the university parking garage entrances
with arms linked. Will ran into one such blockade. He asked them
to clear the way and was refused, whereupon Will simply stepped
up to the leader and decked him. The line broke."
In 1973, Will left Columbia to practice law in
PA. First he joined a small firm in partnership with George Forssell,
'45. In 1976, Will became a partner in a firm of young lawyers
in Meadville, PA. He practiced law until 1987 when he and June
retired to Quarryville, PA.
Finally retired, Will continued his love for golf,
gardening and baseball. During the winter months, Will and June
lived in their mobile home in Florida and enjoyed the "Grapefruit
League." Will developed Alzheimer's disease. He was hospitalized
at Perry Point, MD VA Medical Center for nearly 2 1/2 years before
he died from pneumonia on 14 June 1998. Survivors include his
loving wife, June and four daughters, Susan, Judy, Wendy and
Terry.
Family, friends and classmates all remember Will
Schug as a man of distinction, loved and respected by all who
knew him. As a West Pointer, Will was proud to have lived his
life by the tenets of Duty, Honor, Country. His life is defined
by the remembrances of those who knew him.
Friend and law partner, George Forsell: "He
enjoyed an outstanding reputation, especially with the judges.
One of Will's strengths that made him a first class lawyer was
his analytical skill -- he wasted no time or effort on collateral
or apocryphal details."
Friend and young law partner, Max Weiss: "He
stood as a tower of ethics not only for our firm but for our
Bar Association. Will was a good lawyer, but it was his personal
integrity and high sense of ethics we so admired. It began with
the West Point Honor code, which he explained as 'I will not
lie, cheat or steal.' He then added the Schug amendment, 'Nor
will I associate with anyone who does.' And he meant it. Everyone
in the office loved him and he had a collection of clients who
would have followed him through fire. His classmates can be proud
that he represented the highest traditions of USMA with his unswerving
dedication to all that is right and good. Will continues to be
the standard that we apply to the resolution of daily ethics
and integrity. What would Will do? Answer that question and you
are headed in the right direction."
Classmate, Ed Saunders: "He was noteworthy
for exceptional intelligence, unshakable integrity and strength
of character. Certainly he was strong willed, sometimes he was
stubborn, even occasionally opinionated. But all these things
combined made him the kind of man you would hope to have beside
you when serious trouble raised its ugly head."
To these words of praise for a true son of West
Point, the Class of 1946 is honored to add the words that would
mean so much to him: "Well done, Will; Be Thou At Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project and his wife June
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