William Wallace Anthony

Bill was born in Marblehead Massachusetts on September 9, 1920. His father was Luther Anthony, and his mother was Lillian Thibodeaux Anthony. He had one brother, Benjamin Franklin Anthony, and one sister, Fay Loveland Anthony. All of these members of his family are deceased.

Bill joined the Army on 19 November 1942 and later served as a Combat Medic in the Philippine Invasion during World War 2. During the Korean War he attained the rank of Master Sergeant (E-8), again serving as a Combat Medic. On 21 February 1952, during combat in Korea, he received a Battlefield Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps and was later wounded across the border in the vicinity of Tondul, North Korea. He was promoted to Major on 23 October 1962 and retired from the Army on 31 January 1965 after serving on active duty for over 22 years.

During his military career, he served in the Philippines, Japan, Korea, France, Germany, Vietnam, and Hawaii. In Korea, a citation for the Bronze Star with valor, stated he went through a mine field, while under small arms and mortar fire, and brought out two wounded soldiers. His many military awards also included the Combat Infantry Badge, the Combat Medical Badge with first Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.

After his retirement from the Army, Bill bought a ranch near Stephenville Texas and began attending Tarleton State University where he received his BA degree in Government and Economics. He then moved to College Station and began attending Texas A&M University where he was awarded Masters Degrees in Political Science and Architectural Planning. In addition, in 1970 he began teaching in the Political Science Department and was a popular lecturer among students. During this period, Bill commuted to the University of Houston and earned his Ph.D. in Political Science while teaching at Texas A&M University. He presented numerous papers at conferences throughout the country and was a NASA Fellow.

Bill had a deep love for students and over the years was a mentor to hundreds of students. During his first two year attending graduate school he served as a dorm supervisor in Puryear Hall and was recognized by the students with a plaque that stated: “ A man who gave of himself to promote student identity”. Later, he began teaching in the Political Science Department and continued until retirement in 2005, at the age of 84. He advised numerous student organizations including Company D-2 in the Corps of Cadets, the Old Ag. Society, A&M Sailing Club, Vietnamese Student Club, Phi Sigma Beta Honor Society and the El Salvador Student Club. Dr. Anthony was named a Senior Lecture Emeritus by the Texas A&M Board of Regents on May 27, 2005.

Bill was a member of many organizations which included: Pi Alpha Alpha, Erath County Sheriff’s Posse, Veteran’s organizations and the Texas and the South West Cattle Raiser’s Association. He enjoyed fly fishing, hunting, photography, sailing, skiing and attending major golf tournaments. His favorite past times were Aggie sports and investing in the stock market.

A special appreciation goes to, Dr. Russel Biles, Dr. Timothy Bird, and Nurse Elizabeth Blackman at Baylor Scott & White Hospital and to Hospice Brazos Valley. Also, to Carol Lindeman, Tracy Alexander, Audri Sanchez and Chelsy Wesolick who assisted him in later life. Special friends left behind include the families of: Dr. Nick and Sheryl Pace, Dr. George and Carmilla Edwards, Dr. Harvey and Sandy Tucker, Colonel and Mrs. Raymond Colvin and Lieutenant Colonel Donald “Buck” and Sallye Henderson.

A memorial service will be held for Dr. Anthony at the College Station Memorial Funeral Chapel, 2901 Texas Avenue South, in College Station, Texas on Saturday March 14, 2015 at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Hospice Brazos Valley, 502 West 26th Street, Bryan, Texas 77803 or to the charity of your choice.

His ashes will be interred in the Anthony family burial plot later this year at the Old Burial Hill Park overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Marblehead, Massachusetts where over 600 veterans of the Revolutionary War are buried.