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16045 Clapp, William L.
November 03, 1922 - March 12, 1992

usma1946-C2

 

 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

Personal Eulogy

deceased

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