RISE BEYOND THE RIFLEMAN, PART II: W. LEWIS NALLS, JR. ‘56 WRITTEN BY R-MA PRESIDENT BRIGADIER GENERAL DAVID C. WESLEY, USAF, RETIRED
When I learned Lew Nalls ‘56 had passed away, my first thought was that the ongoing pandemic would prevent the R-MA family from celebrating his life in the ways we would want to, especially for someone as unique and compelling as Lew was. From his graduation from the Academy in 1956, Lew had the opportunity to know and, I am sure, advise seven Presidents of the Academy. He continued that effort within the first month of my tenure, arriving by motorcycle and walking into my office with absolute confidence that he had news to share that I needed to hear. It is an understatement to admit that I had no idea how to handle Lew Nalls. He was outspoken and knowledgeable about many and sundry topics. He loved planes and worked hard with David Mondey to write and publish a book about World War II aviation. He loved to joke and never missed an opportunity to ensure I was aware that the Academy I led was nothing like the one he had attended. Above all, Lew loved R-MA. He counseled me about ways to make it stronger and, whenever he could, he donated to those efforts. He was a generous man and one who wanted to engage with people directly and personally. I think he’d be proud to know that we wrote a second article about him for The Sabre because of a special gathering that took place during Homecoming this fall. On October 16, 2021, several members of the Class of 1956 assembled in The Paddock at Regions 117 (a nice restaurant on Lake Frederick, VA) to remember Lew’s life and work and the many ways he positively 20
The Sabre Magazine
Winter-Spring 2022
