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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Jan '97
William LaFayette Clapp, Jr. No. 16045 Class Of 1946
Died 12 March 1992 at Knoxville, Tennessee, aged 69 Years. Interment:
Highland Memorial Cemetery, Knoxville, Tennessee. |
William L. Clapp, Jr. was born 3 November 1922
in Knoxville, Tennessee, the only son of four children. As a
cadet, he was known as Bill to his classmates; but his family
and close friends in later life knew him as W.L. In high school,
he became an Eagle Scout and was a Captain in his ROTC Company.
He graduated from Knoxville High School in 1940 and then attended
the University of Tennessee before gaining his appointment to
West Point in 1942. He was originally a member of the Class of
1945 but broke his leg playing intramural football and was medically
turned back to the Class of 1946.
Roommate Ed Braun remembered Bill: "His steadying
influence as one removed from the plebe system enabled his roommates
to keep a handle on reality through the rest of plebe year. He
was never too busy to provide whatever help he could to the less
fortunate plebes in the company. He spent his academic career
staying just 'pro' enough to be comfortable and looked forward
to the time he could depart with the Air Cadets in '44. During
basic flying at Chickasha, Oklahoma, Bill decided that flying
was something he enjoyed and something he could do well. From
then on, the Air Corps became his future." Bill received
his coveted pilot's wings at graduation as he graduated a second
lieutenant, Army Air Corps.
Bill married Marie Ellis 29 June 1946 in Knoxville
while on graduation leave. The Clapps went first to Enid, Oklahoma
where Bill received transition training in multi engine aircraft.
His first operational assignment was to Roswell AFB, New Mexico.
Classmate Phil Hopkins recalled: "Bill and I came together
at Roswell as members of the 509th Bomb Wing in 1948. We were
both flying B-29s (and later B-50s), first as copilots and eventually
as aircraft commanders. We became good friends in the process.
At the appropriate time, I asked Bill to be Best Man in my wedding
to Pat Rogers. I was not totally coherent during this period
and I attribute much of the success of the occasion to his careful
watch over my performance. At the time, the Wing was rotating
about once a year to England on 3 month tours, although they
sometimes stretched much longer. We both enjoyed sightseeing
in London together. On one trip I was gawking at the Tower of
London and ran into a lamp post and knocked my camera out of
alignment. Thereafter, I had to look in one direction while the
camera pointed in another. Bill got a huge charge out of that.
He was a good classmate and a faithful and loyal friend."
From Roswell, the Clapps moved to Wichita, Kansas
where Bill flew B-47s. It was then on to Orlando, Florida to
Pinecastle AFB in 1952. In 1954, Bill resigned from the Air Force
and returned to Knoxville to try his hand in civilian life. His
first ventures were in the insurance business, but in 1967, W.L.
joined Standard Knitting Mills as Assistant Engineer. He became
Chief Engineer in 1970. Eugene Weeks, USMA '42 recalled W.L.
at Standard Knitting: "W.L. was well liked. He had strong
conservative opinions that he was not ashamed to express. He
liked to help people and with 2,000, there were plenty of cries
for help. You were liable to see him in most any part of the
million square feet. Really, it was surprising how much he knew
how to fix things. Some people are like that. Give them some
support facilities like welding, turning, grinding and polishing
and they can do wonders. That was W.L." W.L. conducted the
first measurements of cotton dust density using laser beams in
1978. He retired from Standard Knitting in 1987.
W.L. spent his retirement years doing the things
he loved. One of these was traveling and one of his favorite
places to visit was the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. He
was very active in his church, and of course, with his background
often helped with technical problems in maintenance. An avid
woodworker and reader, he spent many hours in those avocations.
He was very much family oriented and enjoyed a family tradition
of yearly beach vacations with his children and grandchildren.
In November 1991, W. L. broke his hip from a fall and after a
long hospital stay died 12 March 1992. He is survived by his
wife Marie; a son William L. III; and two daughters Ellyn and
Melinda.
W. L. Clapp is remembered by his family and friends
as a loving husband, father, grandfather and a kind and generous
friend. He was always available to help those who needed his
help. He was proud to be a West Pointer and enjoyed reliving
his memories of his time in the Air Force. He is sorely missed
by all who knew and loved him. The Class of 1946 joins his loving
family and friends in proclaiming, "Well Done, W.L.; Be
Thou At Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project and his wife, Marie
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