 |
G2
Memorial Wall of Honor
Claude Belmont Donovan
Class of June, 1958
(USE THIS .HTML VERSION WHICH SUPERSEDED AN .HTM VERSION). |
 |
 |
| Research
done by Claradell Shedd, webmaster |
|
From 1958 Howitzer: Bellie hails from the wide open spaces but has learned
to fight West Point's winters and walls. After a tussle with the Foreign
Language people, in which he came out on top, he has continued to grab
more tenths than the Academic Department can. His level headness, patience,
sincere attitude, and hard work are his claims to fame, and his quick
wit never fails to bring forth smiles. |
| Claude Belmont Donovan |
 |
| Year |
x |
Rank |
x |
Status |
 |
| June, 1958 |
x |
Graduated |
x |
Company G2. Cullum 21900. |
| June 4, 1958 |
x |
Branch/2nd Lt |
x |
US Army; Ordnance Corps |
| June 5,
1958 |
x |
Family |
x |
Married Elizabeth Harlan
Miller in Cadet Chapel, West Point, NY |
| 1958 |
X |
US Army |
X |
X |
| December,
1958 |
X |
US Army |
X |
Graduated, Ranger School,
Fort Benning, GA. Group photo below. |
| 1959 |
|
Family |
|
Son Mike born. |
| July 14,
1960 |
X |
Family |
X |
Son Kevin Scott born;
Manchester, South Carolina |
| August 25,
1961 |
X |
Family |
X |
Son David Philip born;
Denton, Texas. |
| April, 1965 |
X |
Family |
X |
Daughter Katie born. |
| date |
X |
US Army |
X |
X |
| date |
X |
US Army |
X |
X |
| date |
X |
US Army |
X |
X |
| date |
X |
US Army |
X |
X |
| date |
X |
US Army |
X |
X |
| date |
X |
US Army |
X |
X |
| date |
X |
US Army |
X |
X |
| date |
x |
US Army |
x |
X |
| date |
x |
US Army
|
x |
X |
| date |
x |
US Army |
x |
X |
| date |
X |
US Army |
X |
X |
| July, 1987 |
X |
US Army |
X |
Retired from Ordnance
Corps with rank of Brigadier General. |
| 1987-2002 |
x |
Retirement |
x |
Served as mayor of Ouray,
CO twice. |
| October
4, 2002 |
x |
Family |
x |
Deceased. |
| aft October
4, 2002 |
X |
Family |
X |
Buried in Cedar Hill
Cemetery, Ouray, CO; Plot Bl 19, Lot 16 |
|
|
|
| text |
| Update
from 1968 10th Reunion Directory |
| Get photo from family (shown below).
|
|
Betty Miller, Denton, TX
Mike (1959), Kevin (1960, David (1961), Katie (1965)
722 Rio Grande, Raton, New Mexico
The Donovans have enjoyed typical assignments, highlighted by
three years with the Ordnance Department. Sorry to miss the
reunion--our hearts are with you, along with this thought: May
God grant the obsolescence of our profession, but in the meantime,
strength, health, and wisdom to accomplish our mission.
|
| Update
from 1988 30th Reunion Directory |
| Get photo from family. |
I retired from the Army (Ordnance
Corps) in July, 1987 as a Brigadier General.
Like a few of the rest of you, we decided to retire to a location,
rather than a job. We were looking for a place with dark blue
skies, towering mountains to hike and Jeep over, a rich history,
a feeling of family, and most of all, a rendezvous for family
and friends. We found it at7800 feet above sea level in Southwestern
Colorado.
Ouray has a winter population of about 800 humans and countless
deer, elk, mountain sheep and skiers enroute to nearby ski resorts.
In the summer, it swells to a few thousand as Texans, Kansans,
Oklahomans, and other assorted flatlanders converge on our mountain
splendor, excellent trout fishing and air conditioning by God.
The fact that we have yet to find out what one can do for gainful
employment here has not dampened our enthusiasm. Our time is filled
with renovating and restoring our 108 year old house and enjoying
all the above attractions. Maybe the future will bring a cabinetmaking
business, some consulting jobs, a teaching certificate, or a profitable
gold mine.
Our last years on active duty were spent in the fast lane -- or
the oncoming lane -- as project manager for the M60 Tank, program
manager for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Program Executive Officer
for all Light Combat Vehicles, and finally as Deputy Chief of
Staff for Development, Engineering, and Acquisition in the Army
Mateiel Command. The titles pretty well tell the certain selfserving
members of DoD, Congressional staffers and their bosses, and the
Washington Press Corps. An interesting time to look back on. To
paraphrase Willie Nelson: Mammas, don't let your babies grow up
to be PMs |
| Update
from 2008 50th Reunion Directory |
| Get photo from family. |
|
After his father's death when he was eleven,
Pat and his mother settled in Raton, New Mexico. There we met
a fresman science class, and thus began a wonderful friendship
that lasted more than fifty years! We married in the Cadet Chapel
the day after graduation and embarked on our new life with enthusiasm
and determination to enjoy this new adventure, together at least!
Children, interesting assignments, schools, challenges, and
reqarding opportunities followed. Army life suited us perfectly!
Pat's heart was always with the soldiers he loved. He took pride
in his leadership in troop assignments with four divisions.
Notable was his strong loyalty to classmates, as well as to
his comrades in arms. One fellow worker described his "integrity,
enthusiasm, and tough standards, balanced by unwavering purpose
and joy in accomplishment" as very contagious. He was skilled
at analyzing a problem and coming up with the best solution,
and he knew how to identify what was important.
We were blessed with four children, and Pat always took pride
in their accomplishments, not only in their careers, but in
their devotion to the family values and ethics which he had
worked to instill. TGwenty-four moves later, we leapt off the
fast lane and in 1987 landed in Ouray, high in Colorado's San
Juan Mountains. Fifteen years of blue skies, unique beauty and
serenity, hiking, and Jeeping old mining trails, and living
the laid-back lifestyle of this small town was a series of ho-hum
days in Paradise! Elected major of Ouray, Pat's varied interests
and the management skills he had acquired in the Army led to
improvements in city infrastructure, the development of a foward-looking
community plan, and creation of a unique connection between
government and the citizenry. He tried everything from scooping
ice cream and conductin llama treks to friving the local ambulance.
He was walking Chamber of Commerce and enjoyed sharing his enthusiasm.
Pat loved working with wood. Hours in West Point's wood shop
set him on the way to becoming a competent craftsman. He carefully
restored our Victorian home, then designed and built a second
house on our property. In all endeavros, from construction to
the stock market, he immersed himself in acquiring knowledge
about any subject new to him. Boredom was not in his vocabulary!
Shortly before his death from a brain tumor in 2002, he said:
"I am so blessed! I've done it all, been given it all,
and have served. I have no complaints!" I was blessed also,
with the privilege of sharing his life. He is at peace now.
His spirit lives on: his kindness, patience, wisdom, and strong
presence on this earth. At his core were Duty, Honor and Country!
|
| Use
these photos as placeholder for site. San Antonio 2004 and San
Francisco 2005 Mini Reunions |
| pic |
pic |
appropriate
caption
|
appropriate
caption |
|
|
| https://www.west-point.org/class/usma1958/special/50th%20Overview.pdf |
| Get link to reunion history book
project for Pat Donovan |
|
1961 Military Register
|
 |
| 1968 (10th Reunion Directory):
Pat, Betty, Mike, Kevin, David, and Katie |
|
 |
|
 |
Pat Donovan
was Program Manager
for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle
Project Manager for the M60 tank,
and Program Executive Officer
for All Light Combat Vehicles |
|
| 1988 (30th Reunion Directory):
Pat and Betty Donovan |
|
digital
wedding picture
used in newspaper article
requested from family member |
|
 |
June
5, 1958
Claude Donovan and Elizabeth Miller
Cadet Chapel
West Point, New York |
|
|
|
|
|
| pic |
appropriate
caption
|
appropriate
caption |
| pic |
|
pic |
| appropriate
caption |
|
appropriate
caption
|
|
| Get
correct locaitons for Donovan. Get Red River, etc.; bar code for
this specific Easley website page |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
| aft October 4, 2002: Buried in
Cedar Hill Cemetery, Ouray, CO; Plot Bl 19, Lot 16 |
|
Claude
Belmont Donovan
Brigadier General
Ordnance Corps
United States Army |







|





 |




 |
 
(Get correct list
of medals from George.)Silver Star, Bronze Star, Army Commendation
Medal w/1st OLC,
and V (valor) device, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign
Medal,
National Defense Service Medal, Air Medal
|
|
| From 1958 Howitzer |
| Claude Belmont Donovan |
| "Pat", "Bellie" |
|
G-2 |
| Raton, New Mexico |
|
Congressional |
| Bellie
hails from the wide open spaces but has learned to fight West
Point's winters and walls. After a tussle with the Foreign Language
people, in which he came out on top, he has continued to grab
more tenths than the Academic Department can. His level headness,
patience, sincere attitude, and hard work are his claims to fame,
and his quick wit never fails to bring forth smiles. . |
 |
| Pistol 3-2-1;
Scoutmaster Council 4-3-2-1; French Language Club 2-1; Ski Club
2-1; Sergeant 1. |
|
|
|
| Lived
in Ouray, CO.. Died October 4, 2002. |
| Music:
"You Raise Me Up" |
|
Home
| Then
| Then & Now/04 | Then
& Now/08 | WP03
| SanAnt/04 |
SanF/05 | WP/08
Tucs/09
| Den10
| Wash/12
| WP/13 | Roomies
| YrBk/Pg1/Pg2
| Memoriam | Close
©2026-csheddgraphics All rights reserved.
All images and content are © copyright of their respective copyright
owners. |
|