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<p><em>Kirk Allan Boothe</em> was born May 31, 1956 to Don and Joan Boothe in Painesville, OH, but Kirk’s parents moved him and his sisters, Ann and Lynn, to upstate New York when Kirk was a young man. Kirk’s dad, Don Boothe, went on to become a legendary teacher and football coach at Niskayuna High School (outside of Albany, NY), the school that Kirk attended from 1970 to 1974. Kirk excelled at Niskayuna. He was a recognized scholar-athlete, with great athletic versatility. He lettered in wrestling (section champion, 1974), track, and football while at Niskayuna and subsequently joined the Class of 1978 at West Point on July 8, 1974.</p>
<p>Kirk was an outstanding, and disciplined, cadet in all respects. He worked hard in class, consistently appearing on the dean’s list for academic performance and earning status as a distinguished cadet (top five perscent) on occasion. He was near the top of our class in physical education, while also competing on Army teams in both wrestling and track and generating extraordinarily strong times on the dreaded Indoor Obstacle Course. Finally, he was well respected by the Tactical Department, selected early for leadership positions (and, as his envious roommate can attest, “produced the best shined shoes that I’d ever seen!”) and earned designation as a cadet captain in our First Class year.</p>
<p>There was also a side of Kirk at West Point that his classmates especially appreciated—he was always available to help. Whether it be a few tips in wrestling class, some pointers in mechanics, or even some advice on achieving a better spit shine, Kirk would lend a helping hand regardless of his personal time pressures. He was respected, and liked, by all. </p>
<p>Kirk graduated with the class on June 7, 1978 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Infantry, choosing a first assignment at the 7th ID at Fort Ord, CA. While Kirk was a fine Infantryman, his heart was in the clouds, and he went to flight school at Fort Rucker, AL in 1981. He had a wonderful year: he reinforced a love for flying, and he also met the love of his life, Julie (Fogarty) Boothe, on a weekend when Julie was home from college. Julie and Kirk were married on June 5, 1982, and they spent the next 35 years, the rest of Kirk’s life, together, raising their children: Kendra, Paul and Krislynn. </p>
<p>Kirk had a variety of military assignments of increasing responsibility after Fort Rucker, primarily related to Aviation. He served as a platoon leader with the 6th CBAC at Fort Hood, TX from 1981 to 1984 and was a battalion S-3 and company commander at the 229th AHB with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY from 1985 to 1988. Kirk went on to earn an M.A. in operations research from Georgia Tech in 1990 and thereafter attended CGSC at Fort Leavenworth, KS, graduating in 1991. After returning to the field Army as executive officer of the 2-2nd Assault Aviation Regiment at Camp Casey in the Republic of Korea from 1991 to 1992, Kirk went on to serve as the Threat Analysis Branch chief for J-5, U.S. Strategic Command, at Offutt Air Force Base from 1992 to 1993 and subsequently served as the program manager for the Technology Management Office in the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army from 1993 to 1997. He retired from the Army in 1997 as a lieutenant colonel.</p>
<p>Kirk and Julie and the family moved back to Alabama after Army retirement, and Kirk began a second career with IBM. Kirk traveled the world for IBM for almost 20 years, working as a software sales executive and project manager. His team and work affiliates described Kirk as extremely conscientious, respectful and knowledgeable, a true gentleman and leader. Despite the travel schedule, Kirk and Julie had some wonderful years, and Kirk took each of his children to a location of their choice for their high school graduation—two to Japan, one to Rome!</p>
<p>When Kirk was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, I am confident that his response was to reassure his family, friends and colleagues, then research the disease and prepare to fight! He did, indeed, fight the good fight, but we lost him on February 24, 2018, with Julie, his children and a network of family and friends at his side.</p>
<p>Kirk will be remembered for his leadership, kindness, humility and sense of humor. He was also a man of great faith. Kendra, Paul and Krislyn are wonderful and learned people, a special tribute to their parents. However, even in our grief, we should always think of Kirk with a smile. A few anecdotes about Kirk bear repeating. John Drew recalls the time that Kirk “helped me rappel out of our sixth-floor room, dressed as a leprechaun, to deliver beer to some friends on St. Patrick’s Day”—a successful mission! Mick Regan remembers the time that Kirk, as coach for the C-2 intramural football team, persuaded the team to spit shine their cleats in preparation for the Brigade Championship game. The team followed Kirk’s leadership guidance and won! </p>
<p>Kirk was a great guy, a wonderful classmate, and a true professional, both in the Army and afterward in civilian life. While he is gone from our ranks way too soon, we can say of him what we hope that others would say about each of us at our time—“Well Done,” old friend, “Be Thou at Peace.”</p>
<p><em>— Kevin Sheehan ’78 and Boothe family</em></p>
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