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<p>“No one in B-2 is more likely to succeed.” These words about <em>Robert Weston Griffin</em> (“Bob” or “Grif”) in the 1969 Howitzer yearbook have been so true. </p>
<p>Bob was born in Indianapolis, IN to Leonard Griffin, a World War II Army Air Corps pilot and Burroughs Company sales executive, and Jean Griffin, a Burroughs executive secretary and devoted mother to their oldest son, Bob; his brother, Chris; and his sister, Susan. </p>
<p>Bob excelled as a leader at J.W. Riley High School in South Bend, IN. He was in the National Honor Society, monogram club, and student government and on the swimming and golf teams. He had many friends who remained close to him over the years. He is remembered as having a sharp sense of humor and being gracious and generous. Classmates looked up to Bob as a man of honor, compassion and humility, and they felt grateful for the privilege of being with him in high school. He received a congressional competitive nomination and was appointed as a cadet at the United States Military Academy on July 1, 1965. </p>
<p>Bob also excelled during his years at West Point. He participated in brigade boxing, the Student Conference on U.S. Affairs, water-related sports (swimming, water polo, Sailing Club), the Honor Committee, the Sunday School teacher program, and the Dialectic Society. His B-2 classmates said he was always a lover of West Point and Company B-2. They felt lucky to have him in B-2. Others say that he was one of the nicest people they had known and that he was a caring and kindhearted person, a dedicated military man and natural leader. He was thorough and calmly in control. People followed him, listened to him, and called him “Company Commander” long after graduation. He was conscientious, hard-working, and fair and served as the B-2 class honor rep for all four years. He is remembered as being a great roommate. One classmate said that rooming with Bob was one of the most enjoyable and memorable stints of the four years. Bob brought people together. He was one of the few classmates who could explain macro- and micro-economics so that one could understand the difference, and he was known to enjoy the stock market. He is remembered as daily watching his Burroughs stock change. </p>
<p>Bob chose the Armor branch after graduation but first went to Airborne School at Fort Moore (then Benning), GA as a student leader in the 48th Airborne Training Company. He subsequently graduated from Ranger School in November 1969 and then attended the Armor Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox, KY before his pre-Vietnam unit assignment with the 194th Armor Brigade. During this period, he was able to squeeze in marriage to high school classmate Kathryn Denise Haley at West Point with six B-2, Class of 1970 cadets as saber bearers. Bob departed for Vietnam in August 1970 and was assigned to Troop D, 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment. He was awarded an Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service near Pleiku. Bob returned to the U.S. after 12 months to his assignment with the 5th Recon Squadron. Bob resigned his active Army commission in June 1974. </p>
<p>Knowing stocks, Bob decided to embark on a financial career with Merrill-Lynch working out of Denver, while at the same time joining the Colorado National Guard with the 19th Special Forces Group. It was during summer Special Forces training that he worked with some Marine recon soldiers, and, as he said, he “was hooked!” </p>
<p>He enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 1976 as a sergeant (basic Marine) and volunteered for the Marine OCS at Quantico, VA. Bob became a new Marine second lieutenant in November 1976 as an Infantry officer. He served in the Marine Corps on both coasts as well as offshore. As expected, Marine Corps officers have reported that Bob’s assignments were significant, prestigious, and distinguished. One of his notable assignments was at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he is reported to have been the Marine staff secretary responsible for the Marine NCOs and officers assigned to USNA and served as the assistant to the senior Marine Corps representative. Bob’s last Marine Corps assignment was at Quantico, where he was in logistics administering base government contracts. He retired as a major in January 1993 after 15 years, nine months with the Marine Corps, with many medals for individual and unit meritorious service (Navy Achievement Medals, Navy Commendation Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Bronze Star with “V” device). </p>
<p>Out of the Marine Corps, Bob went back to administering government contracts—on the other side of the table—for Dupont and then MCI telecommunications. Bob met the founder of Keynote Connections in 1999 and became a business partner in 2001 to form a federal and state contract management consulting company. The owner was also an accomplished author and inspirational speaker. Bob was inspired, and he and Judith Juback Griffin married in April 2002. Together since then, they managed Keynote Connections, developed East Coast and Midwest offices, and have received many customer accolades.</p>
<p>Sadly, we lost Bob on November 16, 2023 from COPD and heart complications. Bob is remembered by his family as a loving husband, brother, father, and grandfather. He is remembered by his West Point classmates as a leader, as a friend who opened his home, as always willing to take in a ballgame, and for his dedication to class reunions and memorials. He is remembered by his friends and customers as a warm, giving person, and a professional in government contracting. Bob was indeed successful. We will miss him.</p>
<p><em>— Family, Friends, and B-2 Classmates</em></p>
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