RISE BEYOND
The Rifleman: W. Lewis Nalls ’56 and the Class of 1956 Scholarship
Each year, a deserving R-MA student is selected to receive the Class of 1956 Endowed Scholarship. Created by the generous members of that class, as well as friends and family, it is awarded to a cadet with significant academic achievement, exemplary citizenship, strong leadership qualities, and who is a varsity athlete. Beginning this fall, at the request of the Class, the scholarship has been renamed in honor one of their own: the Class of 1956 – W. Lewis Nalls, Jr., Endowed Scholarship. Lew, as he was known to his classmates and friends, was a loyal and dedicated supporter of the Academy until his death on January 22, 2021. “Lew was an American original,” said Academy President, Brigadier General David C. Wesley, USAF, Retired. “He worked hard, spoke frankly, and gave no quarter on a matter of honor. He befriended me when I got this job, frequently had a suggestion on how to make R-MA stronger, and always showed his love for his Academy with deeds that have made us a better, stronger school. I’ll miss our talks and I realize how lucky I have been to know Lew… he made R-MA a better place for students who will never know the generous man Lew was.”
20 The Sabre Magazine | Summer-Fall 2021
