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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly March 2003
Donald I Hackney '46
No. 15550 * 10 Dec 1923 - 3 Apr 2002
Died in Savannah, GA * Interred in Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah,
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Don Hackney was born and raised in Opelika, AL. After graduating from
Opelika High School in 1943, Don enrolled at Auburn University for one
semester. While there he enlisted in the Reserves and in early 1943 went
on active duty with the Army Air Corps. He had a first alternate appointment
to West Point and received orders to join the Class of 1946 on the banks
of the Hudson on 1 July 1943.
At West Point, Don was a pole-vaulter on the Army Track Team and earned
his Major "A." He opted to become an Air Cadet and graduated with his wings
as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps.
After transition training to multi engine aircraft at Enid AFB, OK,
Don was assigned to MacDill AFB, FL as a B-29 pilot. Don often recalled
the time when he flew Charles Lindbergh from FL to a SAC base in Roswell,
NM. He was selected for advanced schooling and earned his Bachelor of Aeronautical
Engineering and his Masters from Georgia Tech in 1950. His next assignment
was to Wright Patterson AFB, OH to do structural stress analysis on new
weapons systems. It was there that he met and married Thelma Strong in
September 1951. Don's next assignment was to Tachikawa AF Depot in Japan.
The Hackneys returned to the States in 1955 for a second tour at Wright
Paterson AFB. While there he got into the jet program and started flying
single engine jets. After five years at Wright Pat, Don was selected to
attend the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, AL. He was next
assigned to the Federal Aviation Administration to help start development
of the US Supersonic Transport. In 1965, Don was selected to attend the
Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, PA. Next, he joined the faculty
of the Air War College in 1966 at Maxwell AFB. In 1969, Don retired from
the Air Force as a Colonel.
Don worked for two years in the Office of the Governor of Georgia, Jimmy
Carter. In 1972, he accepted a key position with the City of Savannah,
GA in the environmental and public works area. He stayed with the City
of Savannah for 15 years before retiring a second time. While with the
city, he developed a $55 million, state of the art waste to energy facility.
After retiring from the City of Savannah, he worked for four years as a
contract consultant with a large engineering consulting firm out of Boston.
Don then formed his own environmental firm, RENDEC Corp. He finally stopped
working in 1996 and devoted his time to golf, his passion and other interests.
For his work in the environmental area, Don was selected in 1982 as one
of the Top Ten Public Works Leaders from the US and Canada. In 1987, he
received the Walter Nichols Award from the American Public Works Association
for outstanding achievement in the field of sanitation. In addition to
his professional achievements, Don was very active in community affairs
in Savannah. For 25 years he was active in the SERTOMA Club and was President
of the Board of Directors for the Savannah Speech and Hearing Center. Thelma,
Don's wife of 50 years, died on 7 February 2001.
Don Hackney died 3 April 2002. Survivors include two sons, Donald Jr,
James; daughter, Susan; twin sister, Dorothy and three grandchildren.
The mark of a person's greatness is reflected in how he is perceived
by those who knew and loved him. That Don Hackney was a great man is acknowledged
by his friends, classmates and family. He was a true patriot, proud of
his service to his country. He valued his links to West Point and lived
his life by its precepts, Duty, Honor, Country. At his memorial service,
his three children prepared the eulogy that depicted their love and respect
for their father. These are excerpts from that eulogy: "Today is a day
of great sadness, filled with a sense of shock and loneliness. But, even
though these feelings are natural and to be expected, we should turn our
energy to a celebration of Dad's life. We should rejoice in the happiness
that he brought to all those around him. Dad was a loving and devoted husband.
When Mom was in the hospital, the nurses were amazed at how often and for
how long he would visit with her. Dad was the kind, gentle, friendly person
that you just simply could not get mad at. In his career and in this community,
Dad was the epitome of what people are now calling the 'Greatest Generation.'
He served his country and his fellow man with unselfishness and dignity.
Dad was proud to play his part in protecting his country and our freedoms.
It was here in Savannah that he found other ways to serve. He had dedicated
countless hours over many years to the Sertoma Club and the Savannah Speech
and Hearing Center. Golf was our dad's passion. Dad taught his sons the
game of golf at Maxwell AFB in the late sixties. Last year they were fortunate
enough to enjoy a trip back to Maxwell with Dad to play golf. It was one
of the best days of their lives. Words can never express the love we have
for our Mom and Dad. As a final thought, we will miss him very much but
are filled with happiness because on Wednesday he was reunited with Mom
in Heaven."
To those poignant words of love from his children, the Class of 1946
is honored to add those few words from our Alma Mater that would mean so
much to our classmate: "Well Done, Don; Be Thou At Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project and his children
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