Perseverance was a life-long characteristic. He proved again and again that if he wanted to accomplish something, he was willing to work hard enough to overcome the obstacles to make it happen. It should come as no surprise that he was selected to enter the Unites States Military Academy Preparatory School and thereafter to join the Corps of Cadets.

Gene had already celebrated his twenty-second birthday before he entered West Point, and his sheer determination and persistent optimism made him the “go-to” guy for his younger classmates, some of whom were bewildered, frightened, and not yet eighteen-years-old when they entered Beast Barracks. He quickly became known as “Old Dad,” a rock-solid philosopher who knew and taught his company mates how to survive in the face of adversity. A stalwart member of Company E-2 after plebe summer, he will be long remembered as a good friend and a staunch contributor to the success of all of his company mates.

Gene conquered academics with brute force, often studying late at night in the hallways outside the door of his room just so he could pass the next day’s lesson or the feared WGR's (Written General Reviews). He did pass with gentle humor and a whole lot of “stick-to-it” efforts.

He met the love of his life on a blind date—one on which the young lady had not been informed in advance that Gene was to be her escort. She wondered who this gentleman might be—the one who held her chair, listened attentively to her chatter, and showed great interest in what she had to say. Gene knew though that Cathleen Johnson was the girl for him and, true to form, he pursued her persistently and happily. They were married just two days after graduation and their love endured. They had three children (Cathy, Tom, and Keith) and seven grandchildren. Gene was a loving father and grandfather, never too busy to teach and nurture them. Family traditions were quickly established and continued throughout their lives. This knowledgeable and highly-trained soldier enjoyed making and decorating fudge, coaching youth teams in softball and soccer, playing ball with his grandchildren, taking them to the playground, feeding the ducks, and watching trains go over trestles. For all of us who knew him, he is best remembered for his smile, his steadfast pursuit of excellence, and his ability to persevere.

Gene served five years as an Infantry Officer, after which he transferred to the Quartermaster Corps where he found his true calling as a logistician. He distinguished himself well as a soldier, earning the Bronze Star, two Meritorious Service Medals, and two Joint Service Commendation Medals, the Army Commendation Medal, and several air medals. He served in Korea, saw combat in South Vietnam, and served an idyllic three year tour in France with his family present.

He retired from the Army in 1973 with a strong background in logistics and a firm conviction that he could and should continue in that field after his military service. Determined to be the best in this discipline, he quickly earned a Master of Arts in Human Resources Development at George Washington University.

With his strong experience in logistics, solid knowledge of military procurement and supply, and armed with his new degree, he quickly became much sought after by commercial companies just beginning to grapple with the use of automated systems and the ways in which computers were rapidly changing their business. During a period when Iran was considered an ally, he spent eight months in Tehran connecting the Iranian Air Force to modern automated systems. He continued this work after returning to the States as a Project Director and Lead Trainer with Advanced Computer Techniques Corporation.

Gene’s thirst for learning was accompanied by a strong desire to lead and teach others how to succeed in the burgeoning fields of automated systems, procurement, and resource management. He designed, taught and sold programs to industry, governments, and associations on behalf of the University of Virginia.

By 1980, his prowess as a Certified Purchasing Manager had become known and respected. He was named as “Professional Development Person of the Year” by the National Association of Purchasing Management. Gene served as President of the Purchasing Management Association of Washington in 1981-82. He earned many other accolades and awards in his profession and became widely sought as a speaker at various professional meetings.