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<em>Meade Wildrick</em> was bom into the Army at Fort Hamilton, New York on May 16th, 1887. He was the son of Abram Calvin and Marion White Wildrick. His father, having been graduated from the Military Academy in the class of 1857 and brevetted Brigadier General during the Civil War, was a Colonel of Coast Artillery. His mother was an authoress of no small renown. At the age of five, death claimed both his parents and he went to live with two aunts in Hartford, Connecticut. Though temporarily divorced from the Army, it seems his sights were always set on attending West Point. Accordingly, as a young man, he prepared for the Military Academy at Manilus School in upstate New York.</div>
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In 1906 Meade Wildrick entered West Point with the class of 1910 to follow in his father’s and older brother’s footsteps. From what has been said of his cadet days, he was a spoony soldier. Yet on the other hand, he was far from an angel. He achieved the distinction of becoming a cadet company commander. He also was tabbed in the 1910<em> Howitzer</em> with the dubious honor of being one of the class Area Birds. Besides studies, soldiering and brushes with the Tactical Department, he found ample time to drag, inherit the nickname “Skinny”, captain the hockey team and be art editor of the <em>Howitzer</em>. He often said his ice skating was of doubtful quality, but as the goalie of the Army team, his long arms and legs enabled him to stop pucks with the best of them. One only needs to turn the pages of the 1909 and 1910<em> Howitzer</em> to see ample evidence of his excellent art work.</div>
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On graduation from the Military Academy in 1910, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Coast Artillery. He served at several CAC posts until his recall to West Point in 1913 as an instructor of drawing. It is doubtful that the Army could have given him an assignment that could have pleased him more. It was his first opportunity to serve his Alma Mater and repay in part what she had given him.</div>
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In the days immediately preceding the United States entry in World War I, he became deeply involved in the Army’s civilian training program to prepare officers for the coming emergency. It was at Plattsburg and Fort Monroe that he garnered quite a reputation as in instructor. His efforts went beyond the classrooms and field. His quarters were always a center of social activity for the fledgling officers for whom he was responsible; Friendships were made with these men that would endure a lifetime.</div>
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During the War, his reputation as an instructor kept him from going overseas. Although this was one of the biggest disappointments of his life, he plunged into the task of training others to do the job that he would have preferred to do himself. He saw the urgent need for a simplified text on Coast Artillery gunnery that the average civilian officer candidate could understand and master within the short training period allowed. Accordingly he wrote such a book which was adopted and used by the coast artillery school as a standard text for many years. He also authored several articles on the use of railway heavy artillery which were recognized at the time as the accepted doctrine. Along the mechanical line, he donated several patents to the government for new and unproved type of depth charges. His efforts were not overlooked. He rose from a Captain to a full Colonel in 18 months, and at one time during the war was the youngest member of the regular Army to wear eagles. He was nominated for promotion to Brigadier General in November 1918 but the Armistice froze all further promotions. In 1919 he finally got overseas where, in Paris, he was instrumental in organizing the first American Legion Post.</div>
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In the 20s he saw service in Hawaii, Fort Totten, Fort Leavenworth and again at Monroe. He graduated from the Coast Artillery School in 1926 and the Command and General Staff College in 1927. While in Hawaii, he invested the Sesame Lock, a keyless lock, for almost any type of use. Together with several civilian friends, he formed the Sesame Lock Co. of Hartford, Connecticut which prospered for many years.</div>
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From 1928 to 1936, he served in various military capacities in Wilmington, Delaware, New York City and the Canal Zone. In Wilmington he was the Army adviser to the Delaware Organized Reserve. Through his influence, the emphasis on training the Reserve Components in Delaware was switched from Infantry to Coast Artillery Anti-Aircraft. In Panama he served with the 4th CAC Regiment at Fort Amador.</div>
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In 1936 Meade Wildrick retired from the Army on physical disability after 30 years of service. He took up residence in New York City where he became associated with Francis I. du Pont & Co. and later with Birmingham, Castleman, & Pierce, Advertising. He was Vice President of the latter company. While in New York he was quite active in the West Point Society. He later became president of this organization. His clubs included the Military Naval Club, The Metropolitan Club, both of New York City, and the Wilmington Country Club and University Club of Wilmington, Delaware.</div>
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Just prior to the United States’ entry into World War II, he returned to active duty and was assigned as Public Relations Officer at West Point. No assignment could have meant more to him. With his experience and contacts in civilian advertising, he was eminently qualified for this position. He worked unceasingly to better acquaint the nation with the role of the Military Academy in war and peace and its close association with the destiny of our country. Under his supervision and guidance, several motion pictures on West Point were made and released on a national scale and at least five books were published about West Point, past and present. The welcome sign on “Quarters #86” was always out and the house was continually full of cadets, old classmates and army friends, reporters, sports writers, VIPs from Washington and the like. Meade Wildrick never tired in expounding to all on West Point’s value to the nation. He took as a personal affront any critism or unfavorable publicity of the Military Academy appearing in the countries’ newspapers and rebutted them at every opportunity. During his tour of duty he was elected to the Board of Trustees of the Association of Graduates and was awarded the Legion of Merit by the Superintendent.</div>
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At War’s end in 1945, he returned to New York City and semi-retirement. He remained active in the West Point Society of New York and was elected President of the Military Naval Club. Shortly after his return to civilian status, he was also elected as an Honorary Trustee for life on the Board of Trustees of the Association of Graduates. He esteemed no higher honor.</div>
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Alternating in winter and summer between New York and his country residence, Wildrick Corners, in Blairstown, New Jersey, he busied himself with oil paintings and many civic affairs. He was quite active until he suffered a stroke in tne fall of 1949. Under the loving care of his wife, Beatrice, he was made as comfortable as humanly possible. Although he was incapacitated, his many friends never forgot him. Some ten years after suffering his initial stroke, he died peacefully on July 25th, 1959 at Blairstown.</div>
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With his wife Beatrice, his daughter Belle Giles of Wilmington, Delaware, and his son Meade Jr., Major USA, Class of 1947, and a few close family and friends present, Meade Wildrick was buried with simple military honors at the post cemetery at West Point beside his father and mother. It is quite fitting that the Military Academy be his final resting place. Among the many graduates of West Point, Meade Wildrick had no peer in his devotion and loyalty to his Alma Mater and to the ideals for which it stands.</div>
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While still a young officer, Meade Wildrick married Belle O’Driscoll Battie in Savannah, June 4th, 1913. Belle, their daughter, was bom July 26, 1917, at Fort Monroe and is now married to Dr. Junuis Giles, Wilmington, Delaware, and has three children. Young Meade was bom September 18th, 1922, and is at present a Major serving in Hawaii. He is married to Anne Christian of Richmond, Virginia, and they have two children. In 1938 Meade Wildrick and Belle, his wife, were divorced and in 1940 he married his present wife.</div>
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