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Claude Belmont Donovan
No. 21900
Died in Ouray, CO
Inurned in Cedar Hill Cemetery
Ouray County, CO |
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Betty Donovan at
425 8th Avenue
Ouray, CO 81427 |
Born in Texas, Claude Belmont "Pat" Donovan
III spent his early years in Tulsa, OK. When Pat was eleven, his
father died, and he and his mother settled in Raton, NM. Perhaps
because he was an only child, he always had a fierce sense of loyalty
to those with whom he had close ties. Throughout his life, he kept
in contact with many high school friends, his companymates, and
those with whom he worked.
As a cadet, a bout with the French Department positioned
him in the lower echelons of his class. Determined to move up, he
eventually graduated in the upper third and embarked on his military
career in the Infantry. The day after graduation, he married his
high school sweetheart, Betty, in the Cadet Chapel. He and Betty
embarked on their new life with wonderful enthusiasm, determined
to enjoy this new adventure together. They always marveled at how
lucky they had been in choosing the Army life!
Children, interesting assignments, schools, and
challenges seemed to follow in remarkable order. In 1962, Pat transferred
to the Ordnance Corps to take advantage of his new skills and interests
in engineering. A perfect match resulted. He was very satisfied
with the rewarding opportunities that followed, including a three-year
tour with the Ordnance Department at USMA after obtaining a master's
degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama. He
also completed a course at the Royal Military College of Science
in Shrivenham, England and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces
at Ft. McNair.
Pat's heart was always with his beloved soldiers. He took pride
in his troop leadership assignments with four divisions. He maintained
that his most satisfying assignment was commanding the 1st Armored
Division Maintenance Battalion in Fuerth, Germany; the most fun
was commanding Red River Army Depot in Texarkana, TX; and the most
important, most difficult, and most frustrating was as program manager
for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle program based at the Army Tank
Automotive Command in Warren, MI. Successfully completing the last
assignment resulted in an extension there, serving as program executive
officer for all light combat vehicles. His final assignment was
as deputy chief of staff for Research, Development, and Acquisition
at the Army Materiel Command in Alexandria, VA.
Appreciative of the mentors who nurtured him throughout
his career, Pat always encouraged others. One fellow worker described
his "integrity, enthusiasm, and tough standards, balanced by
unwavering purpose and joy in accomplishment" as very contagious
and much appreciated. Pat was sensible and thoughtful. He was skilled
at analyzing a problem, identifying what was important, and coming
up with the best solution..
The Donovans were blessed with four children: Mike (Class of '81),
Kevin, David, and Katie. In addition to Pat's pride in their professional
accomplishments, he was especially gratified by their devotion to
their families and the values he had installed in them. "Duty,
Honor, Country" was a part of his core.
In 1987, after many moves and many adventures, Pat and Betty decided
to leap off the fast lane and settle in Ouray, CO, a town of about
700 people situated at 7800 feet above sea level in the beautiful
San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado. For 15 years, they enjoyed
Colorado's blue skies and Ouray's beauty and serenity. They spent
their time hiking and riding jeeps in the old mining trails in the
high country and contributing to the small town community. Pat was
elected mayor of Ouray twice, and his varied interests and the management
skills he had acquired in the Army led to improvements in infrastructure,
the development of a forward-looking Ouray Community Plan, and the
creation of a unique human connection between government and the
citizenry. These same skills and his interest in historic preservation
served him well as president of the Ouray County Historical Society.
He tried everything from scooping ice cream and conducting llama
treks to driving the ambulance and serving as a tour guide, thoroughly
enjoying his retirement! Pat remained proudly dedicated to the Army.
He worked with the West Point Admissions Office, helped evaluate
candidates for congressional appointments, and spoke at local patriotic
events.
Throughout his life, Pat loved working with wood.
As a cadet, he had spent hours in the wood shop at West Point, and
he became a careful and competent craftsman. His interests eventually
expanded to soffits and fascia boards, and he carefully restored
his Victorian home in Ouray. He then designed and built a second
house on the property. In all endeavors, he immersed himself in
acquiring knowledge about any subject new to him.
In 2002, shortly before his death from a brain tumor,
Pat said, "I am so blessed! I have done it all, been given
it all, and have served. I have no complaints! I am content."
Pat is at peace, and his spirit--his kindness, his wisdom, and his
strong presence on this earth--lives on. Pat Donovan's life represented
the best of the Long Gray Line.
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