IN MEMORIAM: HENRY GREEN ‘37

WRITTEN BY R-MA PRESIDENT BRIGADIER GENERAL DAVID C. WESLEY, USAF, RET

In July of 2022, I had the rare privilege of meeting a man who was at that time, probably R-MA’s oldest living graduate, Mr Henry C. Green, of nearby Markham, VA. Mr. Green graduated from the Academy in 1937 and is the son of an R-MA graduate and the father of another (his son Bill, Class of 1978). This inspiring meeting was the result of about two years of planning by Mr Ed Richards, our former Band Director, who’d suggested we go out and pay Henry Green a visit. That idea, surfaced just before the Pandemic struck, had to be shelved for many months, but by July of last year, we felt comfortable asking Mr. Green if we could drop by the family farm he’s managed for several decades.

What followed was a remarkable discussion as we sat with Henry and Bill Green in the living room of the home where he had been born more than 100 years ago. Mr. Green was kindly and engaging; he clearly loves his farm and the family members he shares it with. He’s got a border collie and we talked of our love of dogs and the life they lead on a farm. Mr. Green and I spoke about his time in the U.S. Navy and his role in Japan’s surrender at the end of World War II.

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Mr. Green and hearing stories about his life. We invited him to come over to campus for lunch at some point and, while I’d hoped that might happen, we learned a few weeks ago that Mr. Green passed away in May of this year at the age of 102.

This three generation R-MA family has been a blessing to the community around us and I consider myself fortunate to have met Mr. Green. He represented the very best of the values R-MA teaches and has taught for more than 130 years. More than most of us, Mr. Green knows what that span of time is like and, on behalf of the faculty and staff, I express our condolences to Mr. Green’s family. He was a truly impressive graduate and a genuinely nice man!

Graham T. Stewart ‘46 May 28, 2023

Paul C. Buford, Jr. ‘52

March 6, 2023

Brook H. Jennings, II ‘54 March 23, 2023

Coulbourn H. Tyler ‘54

May 27, 2023

John L. Van Metre, Jr. ‘55

January 29, 2023

Norman R. Frisbie ‘58

November 5, 2022

Charles E. Rice ‘58

December 7, 2022

Tom N. Kalogeras ‘61

December 13, 2022

Robert H. Cotton, Jr. ‘62

January 17, 2023

John P. Little ‘63

March 2, 2023

Paul H. Mylander ‘63

April 21, 2023

Forest E. Morrison ‘65 March 2, 2023

B. Waugh Crigler ‘66 April 26, 2023

James L. Gleaves ‘67 December 30, 2021

David W. Lawrence ‘70 March 3, 2023

Clayton P. Givens ‘81 April 17, 2022

Maxwell L. Jones ‘85 April 16, 2023