ALUMNI & VETERANS
NIAGARA MILITARY
HALL OF FAME
On October 5, 2005, Niagara University's ROTC department unveiled a Hall of Fame honoring members of its program that have distinguished themselves after college. The ROTC program has a long and illustrious history, producing many noteworthy men and women; these people deserve to be remembered for the pride they bring to our university. The first honorary inductees are the University’s two Medal of Honor recipients, MG William “Wild Bill” Donovan and 2LT John P. Bobo.
Both men were recognized by Congress for their heroism and outstanding leadership, making them the most recognizable names to graduate from Niagara ROTC and obvious entries as members of the Hall of Fame.
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Inductees have been selected through a process of nomination and approval by a panel of University and ROTC officials. There will be three to four inductees selected per year. Nominees must meet the first two criteria and one or more of the subsequent prerequisites:
- Graduated from Niagara University.
- Participated in NU ROTC with military service ending in an honorable discharge, retirement or funeral.
- Performed military service that set a standard as an exemplary model.
- Lives or lived in the model of St. Vincent DePaul (embracing service to the community, the poor and the downtrodden).
- Made a significant contribution to the betterment of society.
- Reached a high level position of authority, either civilian or military, that is worthy of recognition (ex. General Officer, Congressman, etc…).
The 2005 Inductees:
LTC Terry K. Crowe, '82, recently KIA in Tal Afar, Iraq. Prior to deploying, he was serving as Assistant Professor of Military Science at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York.
MAJ Vincent J. "Coach" Lombardi Jr., '88, a U.S. Army Ranger, involved in Operation Urgent Fury. Coach died from carcinoid cancer on 18 February 2003.
BG James G. Shanahan, '42, served in the 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division as platoon leader and company commander in World War II. Later he commanded the 1-38th Infantry, 2d Infantry Division in Korea and the 3d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam. He also served as assistant division commander of 3d Infantry Division in Germany. He commanded at platoon, company, battalion and brigade levels; received three three Combat Infantry Badges, having fought in WWII, Korea and Vietnam.
The 2006 Inductees:
LTC James R. Kellmurray, '40, a member of the first official ROTC class at Niagara, LTC Kellmurray served in the 1st Infantry Division during WWII and saw action on Omaha Beach during the D-Day Invasion. Wounded in Belgium, LTC Kellmurray continued serving our country for 37 years.
2LT William K. Bruce, '51, served as a rifle platoon leader in F Company, 31st Regiment. 2LT Bruce lost his life while engaging the enemy in Korea on November 3, 1952.
2LT Samuel J. Rangatore, '51, served as a rifle platoon leader in the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division. 2LT Bruce lost his life when an artillery round impacted on his position in Korea.
COL Fredrick J. Scullin, Jr., '61, an Airborne Ranger who served with the 1-503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam. Retired from the military after 30 years of active and reserve service. Currently, COL Scullin is the Chief Judge for the U.S. District Court, Northern District with senior status.
The 2007 Inductees:
COL Nicholas Grunzweig, '42, served in the 3rd Infantry Division in WWII and the 7th Infantry Division in Korea. Retired with 30 years of service and moved to Iowa and worked as the Director of Mental Health and Retardation with the Iowa Department of Human Services until 1979. He passed away in February 2007.
REV LT Thomas Conway, '30, served as a Navy Chaplain on the USS Indianapolis in WWII. He swam to the aid of his shipmates, reassuring them and praying with them for three nights in the water until he himself expired. This was the greatest navel disaster after Pearl Harbor. He was the last Catholic Chaplain to die in WWII.
MAJ John Rubins, '53, served over 14 years in 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Battalion S3, 1st Battalion, 2d Training Regiment, Basic; Trainfire Committee Chief and as a Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General. Killed in action in Vietnam 1967.
COL Paul Somerville, 57, served 30 years in the service. Served in various locations to include: Germany, Georgia, Vietnam, at the Pentagon, on the Turkish/Iragi border, Korea and Virginia.
The 2008 Inductees:
MAJ Patrick De Biase, '42, served in the Army Quartermaster Corp during WWII. He was a supply officer on General Eisenhower’s staff. Is one of the five brothers whom all served in World War II. Retiring in 1982.
1LT Richard J. Dobmeier, '50, served in the 40th Infantry Division Medium Tank Company and the 160th Infantry Regiment. A Veteran of the Korean War. Richard helped establish a committee to resurrect a Korean War Monument at Niagara University in which they unveilied on October 6, 2001.
COL Richard J. McManus, '52, served in the 188th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division, and the 101st Airborne Infantry Division. Retired with 28 years of service. Works as an Administrator and Director of Human Resourses for a variety of Washington Law Firms.
COL Richard M. Rodney, '52, served in the 188th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, and the 25th Infantry Division. After serving 32 years in the United States Army he retired and resides in Carlisle PA.
LTC Scott J. Pautz, '80, served in the 411th Military Police Company, the 720th MP Battalion and various Units within the Reserve Forces. Retired with 24 years of military service and is currently Town Justice for the Town of Horseheads NY and a partner of a Law Firm.
LTC Richard Walsh, '58, served in the 1st Battalion, 504th Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division, 1st Battalion, 5th Calvalry retiring in 1976.
To make a Hall of Fame nomination for 2009, please send a quality 5 X 7 photograph of the nominee (digital preferred), a narrative of the individual’s achievements and any corroborating documents. The nominations can be e-mailed or sent to: MSG Ian Bush, PO Box 2024 Niagara University, NY 14109 no later than 1 MAY 09 or email to ibush@niagara.edu. Please include contact information. Next year’s induction board will convene 15 MAY 08. Family members of the 2009 awardees will be notified in June and this year's ceremony will be held during Alumni Weekend in October 2009.
For more information, please contact MSG Ian Bush at (716) 286-8226 or ibush@niagara.edu
Please drop us an email: |
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| MSG Ian Bush ibush@niagara.edu | LTC Ivan Evans ievans@niagara.edu |
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Let us Never Forget . . . |
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(c) 2007 Niagara University ROTC /