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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Nov 2000
ALBERT MICHAEL NEMETZ * '46
No. 15736 * 21 Dec 1922 - 5 Feb 2000
Died in Phoenix, AZ * Interred Bermuda Memorial Pak, Chesterfield County,
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ALBERT MICHAEL NEMETZ WAS BORN IN Hopewell, VA. He grew up on the family
farm in Prince George County, VA. At Hopewell High, where he graduated
in 1941, Al was an excellent student and outstanding athlete. He wanted
to go to West Point but could not get an appointment so he went to Wake
Forest University for two years.
To say that Al's football exploits on the Army teams of 1943, '44 and
'45 were spectacular is an understatement. Jennings Cullum, sportswriter
for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, wrote about Al in an article published
5 March of 2000. Excerpts give an insight into a great man and football
player: "Al Nemetz became a household name as the All-American tackle on
the unbeaten Army teams that won national championships in 1944 and '45.
He was a rock on the line that opened holes for Doc Blanchard and Glenn
Davis. Some football historians still consider the '45 Cadets the best
collegiate team assembled. The touchdown twins, Davis and Blanchard both
won the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award. But in the 1960s when Earl
'Red' Blaik was asked to contribute to the Colliers Magazine series 'The
Best Player I Ever Coached,' the Army mentor picked Nemetz. Blaik wrote:
'Al Nemetz never made a mistake in his career at West Point. He never missed
a block or tackle he should have made." Al graduated a second lieutenant
with pilot's wings in the Army Air Corps.
Al married Elaine Wille immediately after graduation. Following multi-engine
transition at Enid, OK, Al flew B17s and then B29s. He left flying and
went into Administration and Civil Engineering. His assignments took him
to Carswell AFB, TX, Alaska, New York Air Defense Sector, Fort Lee, VA,
Purdue University for a Masters in engineering in 1960, the Pentagon and
in 1965, the Air War College.
In 1966, Al was assigned to the Air Force Academy then he spent a year
in Vietnam. He returned to the States to become Director, Civil Engineering
School AFIT, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. His final assignment (1973-'74)
before retirement was as Deputy Base Commander, MacDill AFB, FL. Al retired
as a Colonel in 1974. Al and Elaine were divorced in 1973. Elaine died
in 1995.
After retirement, Al continued working as a Civil Engineer. He started
at Cape Kennedy, FL then transferred to Athens, Greece then to Incerlik,
Turkey. He finally decided to retire in 1984. He moved to Virginia to be
close to his boyhood home. In 1986, Al was inducted into the Virginia Sports
Hall of Fame.
Some years after his divorce, Al met Clara Melnik who became his significant
other. They traveled extensively all around the world. They had planned
on a visit to Al's son, Jim, in Denmark in 1992 but two weeks before their
departure, Al had a serious stroke. Clara took care of Al for three years
following his stroke. Al then spent time in the homes of his children until
it became too difficult to care for him at home. He entered Huger Mercy
Facility near Phoenix, AZ, close to his son, Jim. Al died of heart failure
on 5 February 2000. Survivors include sons, Joe and James and daughter,
Judi.
There is lot more to Al than just a football player. He was an outstanding
Air Force officer and a wonderful person.
Clara Melnik, his significant other, traveling companion and caretaker,
recalled: "Albert was never lost; he was just somewhere he had never been
before. He was a traveler rather than a tourist, always trying to learn
more about wherever he was. His winning smile made Albert instant friends.
He was tenacious and diligent in all things. Even post-stroke, he set goals
and accomplished them. Albert appreciated and respected women, their unique
abilities and points of view. He was a wonderful man."
Son, Jim remembered: "I have nothing but loving memories of him. If
I could describe my father in one word it would be 'family.' Dad made all
his decisions with family in mind. He dedicated his life to service to
the United States. West Point never trained a more honorable or professional
officer. Dad was a kind man who loved people. He especially liked talking
to people and made friends easily. He often talked to people at the next
table at a restaurant. As a teenager, this embarrassed me. Now as I look
back, those memories of him talking to people are some of my fondest. The
last years of his life were very frustrating for Dad. The caregivers at
the facility lovingly called him 'Colonel.' I guess they paid him the best
final tribute. On the night he died, the word went out, and all the caregivers
came in to say goodbye. As I sat with him in the middle of that Saturday
night, even the off duty staff at home got dressed and came in to say goodbye
to the Colonel"
West Point, the Air Force and the Class of 1946 lost a great man, patriot
and friend when Al Nemetz died. His classmates are proud to add these words
that would mean so much to him: "Well Done, AL; Be Thou At Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project and his son, Jim
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