In 1943 he contracted Polio. He attended Mt Carmel High School where he learned to play T-Formation QB, graduating from Tilden Technical High School, where he played QB on the Chicago Central Division Champions. Attending the University of Chattanooga, on a full football scholarship, he played T-Formation QB, lettering all four years. He was President of the “C” Club and a Sigma Chi fraternity member. In student body elections, Art was elected a superlative student each of his four years, “Most Athletic Boy”, “Joe College '', “Most Popular”, and “Senior Most Likely to Succeed”. He was also elected to “Who’s Who in Colleges and Universities in 1954.” Art married Anna-Martha Larson (Chi Omega Sorority & Cheerleader) in June 1954, a week after he received his BS degree in Economics, and US Army Field Artillery Lieutenant’s commission.
He served 30 years in the Army as a Field Artillery and Transportation Corps Aviation Officer flying fixed wing and helicopter aircraft. He commanded units from company to battalion level in the United States, Germany, South Korea, and South Vietnam during the war. He was a distinguished graduate of the Naval War College in Newport RI, and a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C. Art received his master’s degree in International Affairs from George Washington University and was listed in “Who’s Who in Government in 1972”. His military awards included the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, the Army General Staff Badge, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Badge for service in the Pentagon, and the Master Army Aviator Badge. In retirement, he worked as a Program Manager for McDonnell Douglas Corporation in the Washington, D.C. area. While living in McLean, VA he was a member and Chairman of the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute Patients Advocate Board. In 1994 he and Anna-Martha moved to Kingsmill in Williamsburg. In retirement in Williamsburg, he was designated a Distinguished Member of the Regiment in the Army Transportation Corps Regiment and received the Regimental St Christopher Medal.
Art was the founder and Past President of the Transportation Corps Aviation Association with 300 members. He was the Executive Vice-President of the Army Transportation Museum Foundation for 22 years, Past President of both the Crown Colony Club, and the John Cardinal O’Connor Division of the Ancient Order of the Hibernians. His favorite pastime was the “Camel Club Men’s Book Club.” He was also a long-time member at Saint Bede Catholic Church in Williamsburg.
Survivors include his children, Arthur Thomas Conroy III, PhD, (Jo Ann, PhD) of Boulder, CO: Timothy Carl Conroy, Retired Flight Medic, of Williamsburg, VA: Cynthia Conroy Schilling, JD (Jeffrey, JD) of Boulder, CO: and Christopher Joseph Conroy, MBA, of North Wales, PA; four granddaughters, Amanda Fitzgerald Conroy of Boulder CO, Kelsey Larsson Conroy of Petaluma, CA, Raili Larsson Flores of Albuquerque NM, Isabella Conroy of Mount Pleasant SC; and grandson, Nicolas Conroy of State College, PA.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Anna-Martha Larson, his son Kevin Mark Conroy, and his parents, Adele Carroll Conroy and Arthur T. Conroy Sr. of Chicago, IL. His second marriage to Elizabeth Dunnington ended in divorce.
Friends may visit the family at the Saint Bede Catholic Church, 3686 Ironbound Rd, Williamsburg, VA on Saturday, June 11th at 12 PM. A Mass will be celebrated at 1 PM at Saint Bede Catholic Church on June 11th following the 12 PM viewing. A reception held at Saint Bede Church in Kaplan Parish Hall will follow immediately after the Mass.
Burial will be at the Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.NelsenWilliamsburg.com for the Conroy family.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.17