WILLIAM WESLEY BUMPUS was born in Covington, KY, to Emily and Samuel Bumpus. "Bill" grew up in Newport, KY, which, he claimed, "vied with Gary, IN, as the meanest town in mid-America." As a high school sophomore, he accepted an athletic scholarship to the Tennessee Military Institute, where he graduated at the top of his class and lettered in basketball, golf, and tennis. He had hoped that the TMI academic program would prepare him for the USMA entrance exams and, apparently, it did. He was appointed in 1945 by his congressman and also won a competitive appointment from a state senator. Before he graduated from high school, however, Bill enlisted in the Marine Corps. In the summer of 1945 he attended boot camp at Parris Island - an experience that prepared him well when he was discharged and sent to Beast Barracks in July of that year.

Bill knew his classmates would have strong academic backgrounds, and he worked hard to graduate in the middle third of his class. He served as a cadet lieutenant his First Class year; played lacrosse, baseball, and soccer; and performed with the Glee Club.

Upon graduation he entered the Air Force and married Kathleen "Katie" Biram of West Hartford, CT After attending the usual schools - squadron officer, electronics, and atomic energy - he was stationed in England, where he had a self-described "truly interesting" job, training F-84 pilots in loading, flying, arming, and dropping tactical atomic weapons. Bill's family eventually joined him in England, and he and Katie had two children by the time they returned to the States in 1955. Upon discovering that a son was afflicted with a rare, crippling disease that would require extensive treatment in a private clinic, Bill resigned from active duty and entered the Air Force Reserves.

Bill remained in the Reserves for many years as a liaison officer with the Air Force Academy. He assisted in initiating the Academy's honor code and, later, in preparing for the acceptance of female cadets. Bill also was awarded the Army's Certificate of Patriotic Civilian Service after serving the maximum four terms on the Army Science Board. As a board member, he was involved in many Army programs, but the one in which he took the most satisfaction was the desalinization of seawater, an effort that was vital to Desert Storm.

Bill spent many years in the Washington, DC, area, where he worked in the electronics field for Bell and Howell, and later as a manufacturing representative. He co-founded ETech of Springfield, VA, and initiated several other business enterprises. He and Katie had two more children. In Bill's leisure time, he played golf and tennis and coached his sons in Small Fry football.

Bill's marriage to Katie ended in divorce. In 1971, he married Ann Stamps Poulson, the widow of '49 classmate John Poulson. Ann was a high school math teacher in McLean, VA, for 26 years. Bill and Ann retired in 1993 to Ocean Pines in Berlin, MD, where Bill indulged his passion for golf. In August 1995, he received recognition in Sports Illustrated for making two holes-in-one in a single week. Bill and Ann shared (fortunately!) a great devotion to the Washington Redskins and attended all home games. They also loved vacationing annually in Acapulco.

In Ocean Pines, Bill became an active member of his local community church and served on the church council and other committees. Bill often commented that his classmates were his "very best and truest friends," and he served as class president for the Washington, DC, area and chaired the 30th class reunion.

Bill leaves a wife, Ann, whom he adored; four children; two stepchildren; their spouses; and 12 grandchildren.

A memorial service was held at Community Church of Ocean Pines with Rev. Dr. P. Thomas McKelvey officiating. Contributions in Bill's memory may be made to the Community Church, 11227 Racetrack Road, Berlin, MD, 21811.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2005 TAPS

Personal Eulogy