Don Clay:
CLASS OF 1953
Phoenix Union High SchoolClass of 1953
Phoenix, AZ
Arizona State University - ArchitectureClass of 1957
Tempe, AZ
Arizona State UniversityClass of 1957
Tempe, AZ
Don's Story
School
Attended McKinely, Adams, Roosevelt, Garfield, Monroe, and Emerson Elementry Schools in Phoenix, Arizona. All four years at Phoenix Union High School (1950-53). Took General Studies with emphasis in Mechanical Drawing and Architectural concepts. Lettered in Varsity Football and participated in YMCA, Les Follies, Masque of the Yellow Moon, and other class activities. Was determined to finish High School and go on immediately to college to study architecture. Worked in the summers as an iron worker apprentice and structural draftsman at Allison Steel Manufacturing Company in Phoenix. Saved money for college.
College
Attended Arizona State University (1954-1957)in Tempe, Arizona and majored in Architecture. Required to take two years of ROTC, over my objection. Ended up taking Army ROTC all four years and was selected as the Regimental Commander my senior year. Received my private pilots license my senior year through the Army ROTC Flight Training Program. Four year member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and intramural sports captain. Washed dishes in the fraternity house for room and board. Great friends were Don Dotts, Fred Ferguson, George Gove, Jim Sellers, Ed Lane, Ras Rowe, Roger Davis, Dick & Dennis Searles, Gene Hutlof, Bill Braman, Bill Spencer, Harry Mackey, J.C. Nelson, Jerry Fairchild, Jack Riggs, Jim Kuyper, Bob Reynolds, Roger Rodzen, Warren Sumners, and Walt Grassie. All were fraternity brothers. In the finals for Class President in both Sopohomore and Junior years. Bill Braman was my campaign manager. Lost first election by 13 votes and second by 7 votes. Fired Bill and became his campaign manager for Senior Class President. He won!! Received my BS in Architecture and a Regular Army commission in the Field Artillery in May 1957 and went immediately on active duty under a three year contract. Served those years in Germany and became involved in Nuclear Weapons. Got promoted, started a family, and decided to make the Army my career. Moral of the story is: Whatever you have to do, do the best you can and something good will come out of it. I never inte...Expand for more
nded to make the Military my career.
Military
Served on active duty as a Regular Army Field Artillery Officer for 30 years (57-87). Spent a total of 11 years in Germany on three seperate tours to include command of the U.S. Military Community, Darmstadt (78-81. Was able to travel throughout Europe and the Middle-East. Have many great German friends on my Christmas Card list. Served 2 years in combat in Vietnam on two seperate tours 63-64 & 69-70. Two years on the Army Staff in the Pentagon (ODCSPER) and three years on the Teaching Faculty at the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. Commanded a 8" Self Propelled Howitzer Field Artillery Battalion (3/21st FA)in the 5th Mechanized Division at Fort Polk, LA for two years. I retired at Fort Hood, TX in Feb 1987 in the grade of Colonel. Have lived in Killeen, TX ever since. Went back to Vietnam in Jan 2004 for a 2 week visit walking over old ground 40 years later in Hanoi, Danang, and Saigon. Great trip. Put a lot of lingering concerns to rest. Would love to hear from ol' Army seniors, peers, and subordinates.
Workplace
Following retirement from the Army I worked as a Marketing Director at a Texas Community College. Did some marketing consulting with Government Contractors and teaching at Central Texas College. Have been totally retired since 2000.
Current Status:
We have five children and nine grandchildren..(8 boys and 1 girl) 3 grandsons are now Daddies. Now have 5 great-grand children and another on the way. All 5 are girls. Figure that out. We have a six acre home in Killeen, Texas (population 150,000) right next door to Fort Hood, the largest military installation in the free world. Stay very active in military events and local community activities. Member of Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, Association of the US Army, Military Officers Association of America, and First Baptist Church . Travel, cruises, projects around the home and yard, dances, high school football games, golf, all keep me and Patty Ann busy.Would love to hear from classmates and friends from the past.
God Bless all of you.
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