NICHOLSON, DENNIS DEWITT
From Knob Knowledge
May 18, 1921-April 5, 2000. Col. U.S.M.C. Lt. Col., U.S.M.C. He joined the Marine Corps in 1938, served in World War II and in the Korean War. In 1958, he retired with a medical discharge. This occurred in 1957 because of an injection received for influenza temporarily left him totally paralyzed, a quadriplegic.
In March 1960, he was appointed Director of Public Relations at The Citadel. He held that position until the early 1970s when he was promoted to Vice President for Development. Since then he was promoted to full Colonel. He had to forego his beloved Marine Corps uniform and adopt the army-like uniform of U.M.S.C.
He is best known for his book, A History of The Citadel: The Years of Summerall and Clark (U430 .C5 N53 1994). One of his shipmates during World War II was Gerald Ford who became President of the United States upon the resignation of Richard M. Nixon. While President, Ford visited The Citadel and spoke on campus.
