Stephen Carr Fogleman

Steve was the son of Alvis Vastine Fogleman and Thelma May Carr. His mother was an airline stewardess who later worked as a secretary for an Oklahoma Congressman on Capitol Hill. His father was an airline pilot who died when Steve was a two-year-old infant. He was raised by his widowed mother and his grandmother, Myrtle E. Carr. Steve was educated at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Day School (now St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes) for his primary years and Episcopal High School in Alexandria for his secondary years where he excelled academically and played football. Upon graduation from Episcopal, Steve attended the Virginia Military Institute as a member of the class of 1971 where he received a B.A. in English. While there he played rugby and won the heavy weight boxing champ his second (junior) and first class (senior) years. Among other distinctions he was chosen by his class to be President of the Rat Disciplinary Committee which placed him in charge of inculcating new cadets through its rigorous “Rat Line” system with the history and traditions of the Institute. At graduation in May of 1971, Steve realized a life-long ambition by being commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.

After serving in the Vietnam War, Steve completed his military duty with the rank of Captain. He then attended the Darden Business School at the University of Virginia where he received his MBA. After working as a manager at Weyerhauser Corporation, Steve attended the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University where he earned a Juris Doctor degree, subsequently becoming a member of the Washington DC and Virginia State Bars. He enjoyed a successful legal career dedicated primarily to lobbying and related administrative agency practice, specializing in the optometry and gambling industries, among others.

Steve was a passionate alumnus of the Virginia Military Institute. As a regional Director for the Potomac River Chapter of the Alumni Association, Steve initiated and formed The VMI Task Force which became the public relations arm of VMI’s effort to maintain its single-sex admissions policy. In that role, he coordinated editorial board meetings with newspapers, trained and acted as a spokesperson in media interviews, and provided case support with the alumni agencies to the attorneys representing VMI. His efforts rallied alumni and public support resulting in a favorable statewide poll showing a majority of Virginians agreed that the admissions policy should be preserved unaltered. Steve retired early from his law practice in order to work full time in this capacity while refusing any compensation for doing so.

Steve’s accomplishments led to his election as President of the VMI Alumni Association (1996-1998), which he viewed as the signal honor of his life. He dedicated countless hours and tireless service coordinating alumni concerns with Institute staff, the VMI Foundation, and the Board of Visitors while promoting the interests of the Institute at the General Assembly.

Following his service to VMI, Steve became the Executive Director of a Congressional Commission On the Role of Women in the Military. After completing that assignment, Steve became Of Counsel to the law firm of Cottrell, Fletcher & Cottrell until retiring due to health reasons in early 2020.

Steve was a life-long firearms enthusiast and collector. He enjoyed arranging training classes for novices and experienced shooters alike. He was a recruiter and mentor to many young men who sought military careers and those who were candidates for admission to VMI. Steve was very active politically, volunteering widely for various Republican candidates and causes. He was appointed Chairman of the Virginia Lottery Board by Virginia Governor George Allen, who later issued a proclamation for “Steve Fogleman Day” honoring him for his service to the Commonwealth.

He was well known and admired as a loyal, compassionate and steadfast friend by a great number of VMI alumni, Marine Corps veterans, and many other friends who were drawn to him by his selfless dedication and willingness to mentor others. He was a past Board member of the Boys Home of Virginia and active in its fund raising. He also loved dogs and cats and, while he thought hunting was a fully acceptable pastime for others, could never bring himself to do it.

During his later years after the death of his own family members, Steve formed a close friendship with Maria and Vernon Kirby, developing a grandfather relationship with their son, Thomas. The Kirby’s personally cared for Steve during his last illness. They are in every sense the family he left behind at the time of his passing.

No recounting of Steve would be complete without mentioning his appreciation for old movies. He could quote extensive passages of dialogue from almost every John Ford western. He confirmed his own qualities through this medium: a rugged, courageous man who placed honor above self, and who always sought to protect the weak from the strong. It was his creed for life.

A memorial gathering will be held on Thursday, September 9, 2021 from 5:00-8:00 PM at Demaine Funeral Home, 520 S. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, where military honors and words of remembrance will be shared at 6:30 PM.

Expressions of sympathy and remembrance may be sent to the Boys Home of Virginia (414 Boys Home Road, Covington, VA 24426), NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund (nradefensefund.org/donate), or the Semper Fi Fund (semperfifund.org).