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William Taze
Jessee and I met in Beast Barracks in 1949; two “old” fellows just out of
the enlisted ranks of 1946. We said goodbye 50 years later in San Antonio, TX.
My eyes get teary even now, thinking about “Jess” over the last eight years
since he joined the Long Gray Line.
Let’s share a few
thoughts about this man who was a soldier, teacher, musician, father, friend,
and loving husband. As a new cadet at West Point, Jess was the only one who
seemed never to get flustered or be in a great hurry. He was a living example of
the poem, “If,” by Rudyard Kipling that states in part “If you can keep your
head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you, . . . .” Jess
was a true Texan, who taught this New York roommate that country and western
music was a collection of hymns and not just everyday tunes. Although he was a
devoted West Pointer, Jess claimed to be a true Texas Aggie with his master’s
degree from Texas A&M.
To know Bill Jessee
was to be his friend — and his friends were legion. After retiring from the Army
in 1971, he pursued another career with United Services Automobile Association
as a Certified Life Underwriter. In this profession, he could help families
avoid the pitfalls of poor financial planning. And it was here that Bill’s ever
present wry, laconic sense of humor continued to make friends, instead of
clients, with all who came to know him. Playing trumpet with as many as six
different bands in San Antonio wired him into another group of people with
common likes, who quickly became friends and admirers of this great man.
There was a side of
Bill of which even some of his closest friends were unaware. That is the great
stubborn inner strength of the man. Throughout his life he had setbacks that
could have made him a withdrawn, somber person. He faced a fifth year as a
cadet; he had some extremely tough military assignments with undeserved ratings;
he had to choose between finishing work on a master’s degree or attending
Command and General Staff College. In every case he met the issues head on,
fought for what he believed was right, and never once did it change the always
positive face that those around him would see. Few people outside his family
were ever aware that Bill had a four year fight with cancer. During the diffcult
times of chemotherapy, he still managed to smile with friends, jog, and maintain
what seemed to be a normal lifestyle. His wife of a lifetime, Eddice Ramsay
Jessee, knew of his inner struggles and his stubborn strength that allowed him
to keep his outward smiling humor. She was his never-failing supporter.
West Point and
Texas A&M have produced many heroes of various accomplishments over the years.
William Taze Jessee stands with the best of them.
—Glenn Otis ’53
Throughout his life he had setbacks that could have made him a withdrawn, somber
person.
… In every case he met the issues head on, fought for what he believed
was right,
and never once did it change the always positive face that those
around him would see. |
