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<p><em>Clarence Allan “Al” Shuford</em> was born November 25, 1954 in Asheville, NC to proud parents Ellis Lee Shuford and Margaret Elizabeth Shuford. Surely something special was floating in the mountain air of “The Land of the Sky” that day, because Asheville’s festivals, food, and arts persona took root in Al’s personality. He was a fun loving “Bear” with a love for life. </p>
<p>An adult bear is an imposing physical presence with a massive frame, stocky legs, shaggy coat, and heavy paws. “Bear” imposed us with his positive attitude, loyalty to friends, and devotion to family. “The Shuf’s” strength of personality served him well in good times and bad. </p>
<p>Al attended high school at Florida’s Pensacola Catholic High School, where he focused his “academic” attentions on football, baseball, track, basketball, and the “Rapp Club.” He lettered in multiple sports. Graduating in May 1973, he enlisted in the Army, crossing the “Line of Departure” on June 20 with the U.S. Military Academy as the objective.</p>
<p>Bear’s journey to West Point began at Fort Dix, NJ. He and 120 other men reported to Echo Company, 4th Battalion, 3rd Basic Combat Training Brigade. From the start, it was clear that Al was imbued with very special qualities. He was open and affable and always possessed a positive outlook, no matter the circumstances. These qualities made him the man to depend upon for help, confide in, or turn to for support and encouragement. Al was the consummate “Gouge Master.” He possessed the uncanny ability to always have the most current intel, passing out the poop before it ever came down from the chain of command. </p>
<p>Al’s even temperament and easy-going style earned him the respect of peers and superiors. At the USMA Prep School, Al got off to a good start in Country Club Charlie. The TAC NCO was a good ol’ country boy that naturally took to Al. Al would get the inside scoop on what was really going on, and he kept his squadmates informed. The other thing about Al was that he frequently had a more efficient way of getting things done, nothing fancy, just practical. With all the mundane arithmetic calculations the Poopsters had to do nightly for homework, Al had the perfect answer—a calculator! His was the first in the company, and he was always willing to lend it to his fellow goats! </p>
<p>July 1974 found Al at West Point, navigating New Cadet Beast Barracks with a Poopster’s savvy. At Camp Frederick he learned he was going to company C-1 (First Regiment, “Land of the Haze!”). With his neck back in “Chargin’ Charlie,” Al found himself in a parallel universe diametrically opposed to the freedom and joy he experienced at the Poop School. Al remained the “go-to” guy, the man you could turn to for help, the man who knew what was going on. The gloom that spread over the “Proud and Great ’78” could not cover Al. By the time the second detail of plebe year got under way, you would have sworn that Al had been recognized by most of the yearlings, more than a few cows, and even some firsties! With these relationships, the Bear gained invaluable insight and knowledge that made a plebe’s life on the treacherous third floor as reasonable as possible.</p>
<p>To evade the hostile environment of C-1, Al escaped to the theater in Ike Hall, where he became a member of the stage crew. As usual, his personality fostered great relationships all around. Al had the artist’s eye for beauty, and it was here, while working with the cadet acting troupe, that Al met his future bride, the lovely Linda Silvasie. Al was a big flower guy, and he sent flowers all the time to Linda. Her Ladycliff dorm room was awash with the fragrance of fresh flowers. Al proposed to Linda while still at West Point.</p>
<p>When branch selection came around, Al’s “intel savvy” would have made him a natural for Military Intelligence. Instead, the Bear branched Infantry. As the Fates would have it, he did not serve. Life has a way of throwing curve balls, and the Bear’s future took a different course. </p>
<p>Al and Linda were married on June 10, 1978 in Whitestone, Queens, NY, and they embarked on a civilian career, with Al serving as an engineer in the steel industry, with frequent moves that rivaled those of the Army: New Jersey, Texas, Indiana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and finally to New Orleans, LA. Healthy children were born along the way: Andrew in 1981, Kyle in 1984, and Ami in 1987.</p>
<p>Tragedy struck in 1996, when Al was diagnosed with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Given two years to live, he gave it a longer go. Al and Linda weathered the storm as only star-crossed lovers could. Their love and devotion endured unimaginable hardships and struggles that came one wave after another: multiple surgeries (including a double lung transplant), the amputation of index fingers, and a kidney transplant from his son Kyle. Through it all, Al and Linda soldiered bravely, with Linda working long hours to make ends meet. Al was the stay-at-home dad, doing the cooking and maintaining his can-do attitude against all odds. Al lived to see his first grandchild, Emma Rose. The Bear was blessed.</p>
<p>Al passed away on March 17, 2009. Perhaps the most fitting way for us to remember him is the way his wife Linda remembers him: “Allan always had goals. He lived for the kids and me.” Rest in Peace, Bear. We miss you. </p>
<p><em>— John Scott ’78, family, classmates and friends</em></p>
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