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<p><em>William Thomas “Bill” Harvey</em> was born in Augusta, GA on October 28, 1944 to Bernice and Jack Harvey and grew up in Thompson, GA with his older brother, Jack; younger sister, Mylle; and adopted brother, Tommy Walden, completing his nuclear family. Very early in his life, Bill learned and lived by the traits that would make him an outstanding cadet, officer, father, businessman, and husband. Not letting his status as “middle child” slow him down, Bill was always focused on the task at hand and was affectionately known as “Brother Serious” in his family. He was an organizer and one who could immediately identify a need and then plan a way to fulfill that need. He excelled in sports and was a standout player on the Thompson High School football, basketball, and baseball teams. Adding to his already impressive resume, he was class president, as well as president and lieutenant governor of the sixth division of the Georgia District’s Key Club International while still finding time to play a starring role in the school play and serve as the sports editor on the school newspaper. His classmates honored him by naming him “Best All Around” for the class. Then and throughout his life he lived by the credo that if you don’t do a job the right way, then don’t bother doing it. He always did it the right way. A little-known story about Bill that illustrates his willingness to do what had to be done involved a group of high school friends on a lake outing. When the boat engine failed, Bill swam to shore to notify the search crew that was already looking for them and guided the team to the boat, thus preventing what could have been a very unfavorable outcome.</p>
<p>Bill applied for a nomination for West Point and received his appointment from Georgia. Boarding the train bound for New York, a classmate recalled that as the train made its way north others from the class joined them on board, and some even found themselves as squadmates in Beast Barracks. Bill’s attention to detail, his desire to do things in the right manner, and his organization allowed him to thrive in Beast, during which he even survived a severe case of poison ivy from a walk on the ski slope.</p>
<p>As soon as academics started, Bill was able to build on his experience and, as a cadet, Bill continued his outstanding performance in academics and athletics (especially handball). Not surprisingly, classmates remembered him as someone who was always willing to help others navigate the intricacies of all the math and science courses. Bill selected the Corps of Engineers as his branch choice and, after graduation, reported to the 538th Engineer Battalion in Thailand for his initial assignment. The battalion had a mission of building roads northeast of Bangkok in mountainous terrain, a challenge he met with his usual skill and determination. </p>
<p>Upon return to the U.S., he was assigned in the Washington, DC area, where he met and married his wife, Susan, beginning a legacy of 53 wonderful years together. </p>
<p>His next assignment took him to Vietnam with the 169th Engineer Battalion, where, as a company commander, he was again tasked with building roads in the area east of Saigon. Returning to the U.S., he earned his master’s degree in civil engineering from Georgia Tech before serving in various worldwide engineer assignments and attending the Command and General Staff College (CGSC) at Fort Leavenworth, KS. During his student time at CGSC, Bill met and made lifelong friends with many of the international students attending the course. After high school, Bill had been a catalyst for organizing class reunions, and after CGSC he identified an opportunity for international cooperation through reunions with the international officers attending the course. These relationships endured throughout the years and one in particular gave rise to the creation of an annual award named for a CGSC classmate, Hans Schlup from Switzerland, who later became a major general and military attaché to the U.S. Bill conceived of an award presented to an international student who best exemplified the leadership and international cooperation displayed by Major General Schlup. The award was approved by Fort Leavenworth and is now presented annually. Bill and others worked tirelessly to establish the award and to see that it would be presented in perpetuity. The action typified Bill’s devotion to international cooperation across the military spectrum and only added further to his continued relationships with the international military community.</p>
<p>After CGSC, Bill’s service continued with various engineer command assignments, including at the battalion and brigade level, the Army War College, Military Personnel Center, and Headquarters-Army Corps of Engineers.</p>
<p>When Bill retired, he recognized a need for communities affected by base closures to be able to reinvent themselves and establish new opportunities in support of the financial well-being of the community. Bill established a consulting company to meet those emerging requirements, and, over the next 25 years, he and his company provided significant input to many areas around the country, ensuring their continued viability.</p>
<p>Bill’s life can be characterized by any number of superlatives, including enthusiasm, skill, dedication to others, effort, determination, zeal for life, and community. One thing rose above all others, however, and that was his love for his family and the special people in his life including his wife, Susan; his sons, David and Donald; his grandchildren: Megan, Eileen, Kevin, Erin, and Sean; his brothers, Jack and Tommy; and his sister, Mylle. He leaves behind a legacy of service to his nation and the international community, and, most importantly, he served as a role model to his family. </p>
<p>Be Thou at Peace.</p>
<p>— <em>Classmates</em></p>
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