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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Feb '88
John Thomas Price, Jr. No. 15774 Class of 1946
Died 7 December 1985 in Austin, Texas, aged 62 years
Interment: Ashes interred in Roswell, New Mexico.
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John Thomas Price Jr. was born to John and Jeanette
Price on 7 December1923 in Amarillo, Texas. His early life was
spent there where he starred as quarterback on his high school
football team. John attended the University of Texas in Austin
for one year prior to accepting an appointment as a cadet at
the United States Military Academy on 1 July 1943. He was graduated
on 4 June 1946 and commissioned in the Artillery. After attending
the Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill and Fort Bliss he was assigned
to his first troop unit in the 6th Infantry Division in Korea.
It was following this tour and while on leave visiting
his parents that John met the one true love of his life, Betty
Loucette Ballard. John married Betty on 30 April 1949 in Roswell,
New Mexico. They spent the next four wonderful years at Fort
Sill. While there they were blessed with their first child, John
III, born on 27 December 1951.
Following a second tour in Korea during which John
served with I Corps Artillery and was awarded the Bronze Star,
he returned to Fort Sill where he and Betty were overjoyed with
the birth of their second child. This time a daughter, Susan
Lousette, was born on 21 December 1955
In 1957 John was selected to attend the Spanish
General Staff College. After a refresher course at the Army Language
School, he and Betty spent a delightful three years, from 1958
to 1961 in Spain where they developed many life long friends
within the Spanish Army.
In 1961 John was assigned to the Office of the
Chief of Staff of the Army and performed duties as an assistant
secretary of the Army General Staff. It was here that he was
first able to display his inordinate ability as a high level
staff officer. For his service during four years on the Army
General Staff he was awarded the Legion of Merit.
Next came a tour in Vietnam on the Military Assistance
Command Vietnam staff untangling the logistical nightmare that
was Vietnam. Again his expertise came to the fore and he was
awarded the Legion of Merit on two occasions for this duty.
After commanding a battalion of artillery at Fort
Sill, John was selected to attend the Army War College. Following
his graduation he, Betty and their children returned to Washington
where John served as a staff officer in the J-5 Directorate of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff
In 1971 John was selected to command the 2nd Armored
Division Artillery at Fort Hood. Following this command tour
he became the deputy chief of staff of III Corps and ultimately
was selected to become the chief of staff in 1975. Upon his retirement
on 1 August 1976, John was awarded his fourth Legion of Merit.
John and Betty made their retirement home in Austin
Texas and thoroughly enjoyed the next nine years of their lives.
John spent his retirement years involved in a wide variety of
activities--business, investments, social and civic. He lived
his life to the fullest and made scores of friends wherever his
travels took him.
Though small in stature, John always gave the impression
of greatness through his spirit and dignity. To the last his
great charisma, warm personality and sincere thoughtfulness were
a source of comfort and joy to all who knew him throughout his
life. We are all far better off for having been his associates.
John is survived by his wife, Betty; his son John
T Price III of Baltimore, Maryland: his daughter, Dr. Susan L.
Price of Seattle, Washington: his sister, Jacqueline Brunson
of Hobbs, New Mexico; and one granddaughter.
A classmate
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