<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
</head>
<body>
<p><em>Stanford Woodruff Shutes Jr.</em> came to the Corps of Cadets from his hometown of San Mateo, CA. Stan, like many of his classmates, arrived with little knowledge of the military. What he brought was a great sense of humor, perseverance, and a determination to meet the new challenges that came daily at West Point. He represented his cadet company in boxing, water polo, golf, tennis, and softball and learned to ski on West Point’s slopes. He also proved to be a very competent skeet shooter. Never a “hive,” Stan was good natured about his academics and took them with the “grain of salt,” which was a lifetime characteristic. He graduated with lifelong friends, a deep sense of taking all things in moderation and the understanding that commitment brings success.</p>
<p>A host of the Class of ’62 from Company B-1 chose Infantry as their basic branch, including Stan. He successfully met the challenges of Fort Benning, GA with grit and determination. Armed with his basic Infantry officer diploma, Ranger Tab and Paratrooper Wings, Stan soon found himself Hawaii-bound, along with his good friend from B-1 Jim Andress. </p>
<p>Hawaii was the number one destination for the Class of ’62, and Stan was one of eight classmates sharing a bachelor pad in Aiea Heights overlooking Oahu. He performed well in his first assignment as a platoon leader and later had the opportunity to serve on the battalion staff. Between life with the “Can Do” lieutenants; leading his platoon in the 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry (“Cacti”); and the social life in Waikiki, Stan’s assignment choice proved to be a great one. It was no surprise to his bachelor buddies when Stan was smitten with Sharon Welsh. Sure enough, as his tour in Hawaii was ending, the two married, beginning a 46-year relationship enriched by their children, Andrew and Christina, and grandchildren: Leena, Ford, Blythe, Jack and Abby.</p>
<p>Before Stan and Sharon were married, he was selected by his battalion commander to lead a platoon of door gunners from the 1-35th on a temporary duty assignment to Vietnam. Following the wedding and the end of his assignment with the 25th Division, Stan completed both the MATA course at Fort Bragg, NC and a course in Vietnamese at the Language School in Monterey, CA. His second tour in Vietnam began in 1966, and he spent a year with MACV assigned as an advisor to a Vietnamese infantry battalion. He returned to Fort Benning as an infantry instructor and resigned his commission in 1967. He earned an M.A. in Southeast Asian history at the University of San Francisco in 1968. With his degree in hand, Stan mustered his infantry leadership skills, his love and compassion for people and his sense of adventure into a new career in education.</p>
<p>It was no surprise that Stan returned to Hawaii, where he spent most of his career at Hawaii Preparatory Academy (HPA), a small coed boarding and day school on Hawaii Island. Embodying the values learned as an Eagle Scout and a graduate of West Point, together with a sense of humor and fairness, Stan found success in being a gifted educator. For over 30 years, save a year-long sabbatical at Kuala Lumpur’s International School and a five-year hiatus as headmaster of the Queen Anne School in Upper Marlboro, MD, Stan was a fixture at HPA. </p>
<p>Over the years he held many administrative titles—chairman of the History Department, athletic director, admissions director, development director, curriculum director and head of the Upper School—but his great loves were mentoring students, teaching, and coaching. His chapel talks, often centering around lessons learned during his time in the military and the friends he had made there, were legendary. He taught history, including classes on Hawaiian history, Vietnam, American history and world history. Stan’s coaching record included Hawaii state titles in boys cross country (’83) and girls track (’95), with six runner-up titles and 36 Big Island league titles. He ran the workouts with his students every day, bringing out his West Point Black Knights baseball cap for particularly difficult workouts. As his health deteriorated, Stan’s colleagues and former students paid tribute to him by raising funds to build his long-dreamed-of all-weather track. It was dedicated in 2010 and named the Stanford W. Shutes Track. </p>
<p>For those of us along the way of Stan’s life, we treasure his humor, love of his fellow man and the wonderful way that he taught, coached, and led.</p>
<p>George Bernard Shaw said, “To me the sole hope of human salvation lies in teaching.” Stan would agree, having given up his sword for his textbook.</p>
<p><em>— Richard D. Chegar ’62, classmate</em></p>
</body>
</html>