IN MEMORIAM...
remembering those who have gone before...

   Bringing to remembrance pleasant events with classmates no longer here...


Claude Belmont Donovan - 03/11/36 - 10/04/02
  
Claude Belmont Donovan
No. 21900
Died in Ouray, CO
Inurned in Cedar Hill Cemetery
Ouray County, CO
 
Betty Donovan at
425 8th Avenue
Ouray, CO 81427

Born in Texas, Claude Belmont "Pat" Donovan III spent his early years in Tulsa, OK. When Pat was eleven, his father died, and he and his mother settled in Raton, NM. Perhaps because he was an only child, he always had a fierce sense of loyalty to those with whom he had close ties. Throughout his life, he kept in contact with many high school friends, his companymates, and those with whom he worked.

As a cadet, a bout with the French Department positioned him in the lower echelons of his class. Determined to move up, he eventually graduated in the upper third and embarked on his military career in the Infantry. The day after graduation, he married his high school sweetheart, Betty, in the Cadet Chapel. He and Betty embarked on their new life with wonderful enthusiasm, determined to enjoy this new adventure together. They always marveled at how lucky they had been in choosing the Army life!

Children, interesting assignments, schools, and challenges seemed to follow in remarkable order. In 1962, Pat transferred to the Ordnance Corps to take advantage of his new skills and interests in engineering. A perfect match resulted. He was very satisfied with the rewarding opportunities that followed, including a three-year tour with the Ordnance Department at USMA after obtaining a master's degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama. He also completed a course at the Royal Military College of Science in Shrivenham, England and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Ft. McNair.

Pat's heart was always with his beloved soldiers. He took pride in his troop leadership assignments with four divisions. He maintained that his most satisfying assignment was commanding the 1st Armored Division Maintenance Battalion in Fuerth, Germany; the most fun was commanding Red River Army Depot in Texarkana, TX; and the most important, most difficult, and most frustrating was as program manager for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle program based at the Army Tank Automotive Command in Warren, MI. Successfully completing the last assignment resulted in an extension there, serving as program executive officer for all light combat vehicles. His final assignment was as deputy chief of staff for Research, Development, and Acquisition at the Army Materiel Command in Alexandria, VA.

Appreciative of the mentors who nurtured him throughout his career, Pat always encouraged others. One fellow worker described his "integrity, enthusiasm, and tough standards, balanced by unwavering purpose and joy in accomplishment" as very contagious and much appreciated. Pat was sensible and thoughtful. He was skilled at analyzing a problem, identifying what was important, and coming up with the best solution..

The Donovans were blessed with four children: Mike (Class of '81), Kevin, David, and Katie. In addition to Pat's pride in their professional accomplishments, he was especially gratified by their devotion to their families and the values he had installed in them. "Duty, Honor, Country" was a part of his core.


In 1987, after many moves and many adventures, Pat and Betty decided to leap off the fast lane and settle in Ouray, CO, a town of about 700 people situated at 7800 feet above sea level in the beautiful San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado. For 15 years, they enjoyed Colorado's blue skies and Ouray's beauty and serenity. They spent their time hiking and riding jeeps in the old mining trails in the high country and contributing to the small town community. Pat was elected mayor of Ouray twice, and his varied interests and the management skills he had acquired in the Army led to improvements in infrastructure, the development of a forward-looking Ouray Community Plan, and the creation of a unique human connection between government and the citizenry. These same skills and his interest in historic preservation served him well as president of the Ouray County Historical Society. He tried everything from scooping ice cream and conducting llama treks to driving the ambulance and serving as a tour guide, thoroughly enjoying his retirement! Pat remained proudly dedicated to the Army. He worked with the West Point Admissions Office, helped evaluate candidates for congressional appointments, and spoke at local patriotic events.

Throughout his life, Pat loved working with wood. As a cadet, he had spent hours in the wood shop at West Point, and he became a careful and competent craftsman. His interests eventually expanded to soffits and fascia boards, and he carefully restored his Victorian home in Ouray. He then designed and built a second house on the property. In all endeavors, he immersed himself in acquiring knowledge about any subject new to him.

In 2002, shortly before his death from a brain tumor, Pat said, "I am so blessed! I have done it all, been given it all, and have served. I have no complaints! I am content." Pat is at peace, and his spirit--his kindness, his wisdom, and his strong presence on this earth--lives on. Pat Donovan's life represented the best of the Long Gray Line.

 .......His wife and children, friends, and classmates

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