The Rifleman: W. Lewis Nalls, Jr. and the Class of 1956 Scholarship

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.”

“That Lew died during the tragedy that has been the COVID-19 pandemic denied us the opportunity to celebrate his life in customary ways is something I’ll always regret,” General Wesley continued, “but I am proud of his classmates for finding this singular way to ensure future students know the name of the man who made their education possible. I think Lew would have smiled at that and I am confident he would be proud of the way his Academy has weathered this storm.”

Born on March 21, 1937 in Richmond, Virginia, Lew grew up in Alexandria, VA, and attended R-MA for five years (1951-1956). Those years would shape much of the rest of his life.

Lew was a leader during his time on campus, attaining the rank of M/Sgt as a member of Battalion Staff and performing with the drill team, but his favorite accomplishment was serving as captain of the rifle team. Under his command, the team enjoyed a spectacular season with only one loss (to Fishburne Military School; a loss they avenged at the State Meet) and took the Virginia State Championship for the fourth year in a row. In his senior will, Lew left “the armory to anyone who likes to clean rifles.”

Following graduation, Lew served in the United States Army from 1960-1966, earning the rank of SP-4, and received an honorable discharge. He spent the next 30 years as an employee of Delta Airlines, serving in operations out of Reagan International Airport. In 1995, he married Moira Thompson (she predeceased him in 2013), and they subsequently retired to Northumberland County, Virginia.

In his spare time, Lew enjoyed traveling the world, skeet and trap shooting, boating, motorcycles, model trains, and co-authored a book on World War II military aircraft, U.S.A.A.F. at War in the Pacific – all while he continued to support his alma mater. He served on the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors and as Class Ambassador, and did much of the legwork required to create the scholarship that will now bear his name.

Funding for endowed scholarships like the Class of 1956 – W. Lewis Nalls, Jr., Endowed Scholarship is a top priority for R-MA, as our community builds a legacy that will impact students for generations to come. Contributions give the Academy the ability to recruit and retain students from across the country regardless of their financial need, forging a strong foundation for its vision: making leaders who will improve humanity.