Col. Tyson Wilson VMI/USMC RIP

[bruno]

On of the great VMI professors passed on yesterday. Col Tyson "Ty Ty" Wilson - professor of history at VMI for 33 years passed on last week at the age of 93:
RIP "TyTy". Multiple generations of VMI grads including myself- are better educated and better men for having been taught by you. Afellow alumnus on another site said it best:

"He was a member of the greatest generation.
On his gravestone it will say “Colonel, United States Marine Corps Reserve”. That should say it all, but it doesn’t.
He was a teacher, but that is not sufficient. He was more than a teacher. He was a mentor, a guide, a friend, a counselor. Cadets for over thirty came through his office, came under his spell, learned from his experience as a student and a participant. In short he was the quintessential VMI man.

But he was not a graduate of VMI, but in those thirty years of teaching he became the embodiment of a VMI professor and the VMI man. In addition he was a citizen soldier, a good citizen, a loving husband and a dedicated professional.
For those of us lucky enough to have known him let us raise a glass to his memory. The world is little poorer for his passing.
May you rest in peace good and faithful servant: Tyson Wilson, Colonel, United States Marine Corps Reserve."
http://op-for.com/2011/12/thoughts-on-the-passing-of-colonel-tyson-wilson-usmcr.html

http://www.thenews-gazette.com/obit.php?sid=23372

Col. Tyson Wilson, former history professor at Virginia Military Institute, died Dec. 21, 2011, in Lexington. He was 93.

A native of Queens in New York City, Col. Wilson joined the U.S. Marines Corps in 1942 and saw active duty at the island battles of Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa. On leave in New Zealand in 1943 after being wounded in action, he met and married Lois Ramsey, a New Zealander. Col. Wilson, recipient of the Bronze Star, remained on active or reserved duty at the Corps for 37 years.

In 1952, he joined the VMI faculty, teaching history, and also served as law school and graduate business school adviser, as class adviser and as faculty advisor to numerous cadet organizations. A 1983 recipient of VMI’s Distinguished Teaching Award, Col. Wilson retired in 1984. His wife of 60 years, Lois, died in 2003.

Col. Wilson received a bachelor’s degree from New York University, a master’s degree from Yale, and pursued doctoral studies at Columbia.

Col. Wilson is survived by two daughters, Charlotte Getgood of Asheville, N.C., and Natalie Susan Rathvon of Bethesda, Md., two grandchildren, and five great- grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to R.E. Lee Memorial Episcopal Church, Rockbridge County SPCA, or Kendal at Lexington