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AMES SCRIBNER ALBRO, JR., was an “Army brat” born in San Antonio, TX. He grew up in Arizona and spent two years at the University of Arizona prior to entering West Point. Ames was always generous with his help in academics to his F-2 classmates who were not as gifted intellectually. He graduated with honors.
His high class standing garnered a commission in the Corps of Engineers and a Rhodes Scholarship. At Oxford he studied philosophy, politics, and economics—quite a departure from his chemistry and engineering background. He was the first West Point graduate ever to receive a “First,” the highest grade in the system. Ames had the normal company grade assignments and military schooling. He was identified early as an overachiever and subsequently received several early promotions. Later, when Ames was in the Department of Social Sciences at West Point, BG Joe Jordan confirmed this judgment in his comment that Ames stood out, even among other highly talented faculty members, for his “intellectual brilliance.”
Ames’s very distinguished military career was highlighted by command of an engineer battalion in Pleiku, Viet Nam, at the time of the Tet offensive; command of the 36th Engineer Group at Ft. Benning; district engineer in Korea; deputy director for plans and requirements, Defense Mapping Agency; command of the Middle East Division for the Corps of Engineers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and, on his last assignment before retiring from active duty as a major general in June 1984, director of engineering and construction for the Corps of Engineers.
The Chief of Engineers, for whom Ames served in his last active duty assignment, described Ames as “a splendid engineer, a most effective leader, and a fine human being . . . He handled a most difficult job in Saudi Arabia superbly and won the respect of all his peers and associates as well as our foreign hosts, who were greatly impressed and appreciative of his work. . . . He had all the personal and professional qualities we look for in our best people. He was always the patriot and handled his difficult job with all the drive, vigor, and self-sacrifice one could ever hope for.”
An engineer colleague, who later became Chief of Engineers, described Ames “as being professional in every phase of his life, highly intelligent and articulate; an aggressive leader who led by example with a true concern for people and their development; a strategic thinker and a man of strong integrity. Perhaps one of his greatest attributes was an ability to stay calm during chaos. When things were going bad, morale declining and the future looking bleak, Ames stepped forward and took charge. He had an ability to concentrate on the positive and make people believe they could accomplish difficult missions—and they did.”
Ames received many awards for his outstanding service, including the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star for valor.
Ames had four children from his marriage to Nancy Jane Howsare, who passed away in 1976. He married Ellen Jane Britz, whose husband had been killed in Viet Nam, and she brought two children to their marriage.
Ames left active duty in 1984 and became a senior executive in the planning and construction firm of Walk-Haydel Associates in New Orleans, LA. Jane describes the move to New Orleans as a great adventure. They found the city offered them a real sense of belonging—something neither of them had experienced as nomadic military children and adults.
Ames and Jane began an entirely new lifestyle in New Orleans. They traveled extensively, took up golf (which Ames pursued with a vengeance even if their respective scores remained on the modest side), collected exotic fish and orchids, participated in New Orleans civic life, and served a number of years on the Rhodes Selection Committee.
Ames was invited to join a “Carnival Krewe” after they had been in New Orleans for a few years. His krewe put on an annual Mardi Gras Ball. Perhaps the greatest honor and experience Ames was afforded during these years in New Orleans came when he was asked to chair all the arrangements for the outdoor Mass to be held during the papal visit in 1987. It involved a grueling year of preparations, but it was a labor of love for him, even though he wasn’t Roman Catholic. This selection was indicative of the high regard his colleagues had for his leadership skills. The day of the Mass dawned sunny and hot, but just before the Pope arrived at the mass site, there was a huge downpour. The photo of a rain-soaked Ames shaking hands with the Pope is a treasured memory of a momentous year for the Albros.
Ames’ health declined very gradually. As his emphysema worsened, he began to give up those activities he had enjoyed so much. He retired from the engineering firm and announced he was on the list for a lung transplant. His co-workers had hardly realized the extent of his illness. His life had become so incredibly difficult and restricted that he was willing to risk all for the chance of a few years of renewed quality. He underwent a lung transplant and fought valiantly for ten days, but it was not to be. Ames passed away just five months into his retirement. Ames is survived by his wife, six children, and 16 grandchildren.
Ames was clearly gifted intellectually. His Oxford experience, the challenging assignments throughout his successful career, and his life with Jane and the family in New Orleans attest to the fact that he approached everything he did with great passion and zeal. Family values, especially with regard to raising six children, ranked very high in Ames’ priorities. His family, friends, and classmates are pleased to sing his praises as a father, leader, and dedicated public servant.
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