In Memory: Charles S. Luck III ’55 By Scott Belliveau ’83, Communications Officer
board, a position he held until his death. Luck “It is easy to exhaust superlatives when dealso was on the boards of many corporations scribing Charlie Luck,” said Gen. J.H. Binford and professional organizations. His decisions to Peay III ’62, former VMI superintendent, when embrace innovations as well as set high standards asked to reflect upon Charles S. Luck III ’55, in the realms of safety and environmental quality who died Dec. 1, 2020, at age 87. “He was earned Luck Companies national recognition a successful leader in business known for his and him leadership positions in many trade strong entrepreneurial spirit and his willingness associations. to embrace innovation. He had a sincere desire Luck was involved in community affairs, espeto serve his neighbors and devoted himself to the cially in the Richmond area. He served on the support of many charities and community orboards of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and ganizations. Moreover, he was a stalwart friend the Children’s Museum of Richmond as well as to me. Of course, I first came to know him as those of Mary Baldwin College, the J. Sargeant a grateful alumnus who served tirelessly on the Reynolds Community College Educational boards of all the VMI Alumni Agencies and Foundation, and St. Christopher’s School. In the Board of Visitors and as a leader in support part, Luck ’83 credits his father’s devotion to of the Institute who for several decades gave service to the example set by his grandfather, selflessly of his time and talent to encourage who “was devoted to serving the community and others to help strengthen VMI and always led very philanthropic. My dad took that example by outstanding example.” to heart.” Luck’s VMI experience also provided Luck, the son of Charles S. Luck Jr., Class of inspiration. “VMI sets a high standard of service 1920, was indeed all those things—and much for its alumni, and dad always strived to meet it.” more. According to his son, Charles S. Luck IV Luck also found board work agreeable. “Dad ’83, Luck promoted the Institute even before enjoyed boards and board work,” recalled Luck he matriculated. “In a letter, he told a friend ’83. “He liked forming coalitions, developing that he was making a big mistake by going to Luck ’55 strategies, and discerning what was needed to the University of Virginia instead of VMI.” He also was unlike many alumni, whose affection for VMI increases the move an organization to the next level. Also, he enjoyed preparing for longer they have been out of barracks. “Even as a cadet, he loved it. He meetings, examining documents, and doing the readings.” Bright threads run through the fabric of every life. For Luck, these were appreciated the structure as well as the friendships and camaraderie.” Although the highest rank he held in the Corps was corporal, he took a his family and his business—and VMI. “As a cadet, the VMI community leading role in many activities, including the staff of the Bomb and the became dad’s community, and it stayed that way for the rest of his life,” Hop Committee. He also played golf three of his four years as a cadet. said Luck ’83. It was, he continued, “intertwined with all aspects of his After service in the Air Force, Luck began to work at his family’s life.” Luck’s wife of 64 years, True, was the girl he dated while at VMI. stone products company, Luck Stone, in Goochland County. It would Many of the company’s customers were VMI alumni, including many, be more accurate to say he returned to work in the family business, as like Luck, who had been civil engineering majors. Luck ’83 remembers he had worked summers for it since he was 12. Among his first tasks that when the company bought an airplane in 1972, it arrived painted was deliver ice and water to workmen in a quarry, which involved him white. “It wasn’t long before it was painted in VMI colors.” The Luck family traveled regularly to VMI for football games, and until it ended being lowered to the quarry floor in a basket. In 1965, he became the company’s president. Under his leadership, in the early 1970s, attending the annual VMI versus VPI Thanksgiving the company was marked by, according to a family remembrance, Day game in Roanoke was a family tradition. Luck served VMI in many capacities over five decades. He joined the “expansion and technological advancement.” The company added plants and quarries in Virginia and North Carolina and opened re- VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors in 1965. Five years later, tail architectural stone centers. It also branched out into real estate he became a member of the VMI Board of Visitors, serving until 1978. and acquired a manufacturer of clay tennis courts. After 30 years at From 1978-81, he was a member of the VMI Keydet Club Board of the helm of what had become Luck Companies, Luck ’83 became Governors. He later was a trustee of the VMI Foundation from 1987company’s chief executive officer, and Luck became chairman of the 95, during which time he became the organization’s vice president for
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VMI Alumni Review
