GRINALDS, JOHN SOUTHY
From Knob Knowledge
President of The Citadel, 1997-2005. Born in Baltimore, M.D. on January 5, 1938, but spent most of his boyhood in Macon, G.A. He attended the U.S. Military Academy where he graduated with honors in 1959. He was the first West Point cadet since 1814 to be commissioned directly into the Marine Corps. He then received a Rhodes scholarship. He attended Braseose College, Oxford University where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in geography. Again, he graduated with honors. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam where he was awarded a Silver Star for heroism in combat. He also served in the Mediterranean, Panama Canal Zone, Japan and Belgium. From 1982 to 1985, he served as special assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, working in negotiations between NATO and the French military. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1991 as a major general to become headmaster of the Woodberry Forest School in Madison County, Virginia. In 1997 he became president of The Citadel. He is the first marine ever to serve as a Citadel president. His wife is Norwood Dennis Grinalds. Among his many honors was his induction into the French Légion d'Honneur by President of France François Mitterand. (Source: Biography on The Citadel Office of Public Affairs Web site) (HN & DH)
