W

WANDO WOODS
Wando Woods is located in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Since 1972, the FTX (field Training Exercises) have been conducted there for Army ROTC Cadets. These exercises are normally conducted in the spring of each year. Prior to the use of Wando Woods, the exercises were conducted in Goose Creek.
WASHINGTON LIGHT INFANTRY
This organization is now primarily service-oriented, but it has a rich historical past. It was started in 1807 as a volunteer group because of friction between the U.S. and Britain. The British frigate Leopard fired upon the United States Ship Chesapeake and sank her. "Remember the Leopard" has continued to be an honored cry of the WLI.
    On 16 June 1822, it helped to suppress a slave insurrection led by Denmark Vesey. It then served as the guard of the Old Citadel which was a magazine and an armory. To protect this building, soldiers were hired at the expense of the state. Later it was felt that the cost of guarding the armory would be reduced if cadets guarded it instead of soldiers. In 1843, this building was turned over to the South Carolina Military Academy which later became known as The Citadel. The WLI was instrumental in its establishment from the beginning.
    The college was founded in 1842, on Washington's birthday, at Washington Park, downtown Charleston. Every year The Citadel participates in the Washington Light Infantry parade.[Sources: Washington Light Infantry. UA448 .W26 1987;Oliver J. Bond, The Story of The Citadel (see page references in index).U430 .C5 B57 1989; Richard L. Schreadley, Valor and Virtue: The Washington Light Infantry in Peace and War. UA443 .S3 1997] For additional information click Washington Light Infantry. (HN)
WASHINGTON'S PORTRAIT
An intricate needlework copy of John Trumbull's portrait of George Washington hung in the old Coward Dining Hall. While it was on loan to the Smithsonian Institution, in 1978, it appeared in the National Bicentennial Exhibit in Washington, D.C.
Trumbull's painting of Washington which hangs in Charleston City Hall, was his second painting. It was done after the first was rejected as being too militaristic. The first painting now hangs in the Yale Gallery of Fine Arts. The needle work was based on the first painting.
    Jeannie Whittemore of Connecticut and her two sisters spent more than a year working on it. For it, Miss Whittemore was presented an award at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876. The tapestry is 5 by 7 feet. It is a combination of carefully shaded gros point and cross-stitch. Gold beads embellish the epaulets, watch fob, brass buttons, saber, and horse's harness.
    The work was contributed to The Citadel in 1956 by Mrs. Lyman Rhodes of Charleston, whose husband was a nephew of Miss Whittemore. (HN)
WATER TOWER
There are two water towers on campus. The main one is on Indian Hill; its height is 160 ft. and its capacity is 2,500 gallons. It could at one time be seen through the Seraph Monument's periscope when that monument was in front of the library, at the corner of Lee and the Avenue of Remembrance. It had a Confederate Flag painted on it which could clearly be seen through the periscope. The other water tower is within the clock tower of Padgett-Thomas Barracks. It just supplements the main tower in maintaining water pressure.
    In the old tower, cadets would lower themselves down the ladder in semi-darkness and go swimming. One of the cadets who did this was David McCuen, who later became chairman of the Board of Visitors. "McCuen said some thirty years after this prank, that he and his fellow swimmers often amused themselves thinking about the expression that might appear on General Summerall's face if he knew they were swimming in his drinking water." (Source: Dennis D. Nicholson, Jr. , A History of the Citadel: The Years of Summerall and Clark, p. 82. U430 ./c5 N53 1994) (HN)
WATSON, JAMES M.
Captain Watson was a professor of military science, 1984-86. He was convicted of murdering his wife in 1986. (Sources: Richard Green, Jr., "Watson Evidence Ruined in Shipment to FBI, Agent Says," News and Courier, March 19, 1986, pp. 1-B, 2-B; Richard Green, Jr., "Watson Guilty, Gets Life," News and Courier, March 21, 1986, p. 1-A) (HN)
WATTS BARRACKS
Built in 1996 and named after LTG Claudius E. Watts, III, USAF (Ret). Class of 1958. President of The Citadel 1989-1996. It is the home of the 1st battalion. It houses 466 cadets. All the rooms are air conditioned. It has a computer center. It also has twice the number of latrines as the other barracks. (HN)
WATTS, CLAUDIUS E., III
Class of 1958. LTG USAF, (Ret). President of The Citadel 1989-1996. While at The Citadel he had the rank of Cadet LTC, commanding the third battalion. He was a gold star student every semester he was here. After graduation he attended the London School of Economics and Political Science as a Fulbright Scholar. In 1967, he earned a master's degree in business administration from Stanford. His father and his son both graduated from The Citadel, 1932 and 1983 respectively. As an Air Force officer he logged more than 7,000 flying hours. His 44 awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Vietnamese Service Medal. From 1986 until his retirement in 1989 he served as Comptroller of the Air Force. [Source: CDR Bruce E. Williams, "Bud Watts, '58: Above the Crowd," Citadel Magazine, vol. 1, no. 3 (spring 1999), pp. 24-27. PRIOLEAU ROOM U430 .C5 A823] (DH)
WEAVER, ERASMUS M.
23 May 1854-13 November. 1920. Became Major General 9 July 1916. Taught at The Citadel, 1883-1886. Father of Walter Reed Weaver. (Sources: Jim Hayes, James Island, SC. Who Was Who in America, 1897-1942) (HN)
WEAVER, WALTER REED
23 February 1885-27 October 1944. Born in Charleston while his father was teaching at The Citadel, 1883-1886. He later became a Major General in the Army Air Corps. From December 1941 to March 1942, he was the acting head of the Air Corps while General Hap Arnold was in Europe. Source: Who Was Who in America, 1943-1950, p. 562. REF E176 .W64 1943-1950) (HN)
WEBSTER, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, III
Class of 1957. Earned an MS in Hospital Management from the University of South Carolina. Was Arland D. Williams' college roommate at The Ctiadel. One of the first two inductees, in 2000, of the Arland D. Williams Society, a group established to honor alumni and employees for outstanding community service. Webster pushed for collective bargaining and health plan reforms for Michigan teachers. He was also recognized for his work with the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. In addition, he has worked with children's rehabilitation centers, ospital boards, the Governor of Michigan's health care policy evaluation commission and senior citizen centers. (Sources: Alumni Office files; Citadel Office of Public Affairs, press release, Nov. 2, 2000; Charlene Gunnells, "Man Who Saved Five Others in Crash Remembered at Military School, Associated Press Dispatch, Nov. 2, 2000)
WEST, JOHN CARL
1922-2004. Citadel Class of 1942. Governor of South Carolina, 1971-1975. During World War II he served in U. S. Army Intelligence, attainiing the rank of Major. Graduated University of South Carolina Law School, 1948. Served in S. C. Senate, 1955-66; Lieutenant Governor, 1967-71; U. S. Ambassador to Saudi Araabia, 1977-81. His gubernatorial term was marked by efforts to improve race relations in the state and leadership in the drive to establish a second medical university in Columbia. (Sources: Schuyler Kropf, "Former Gov. John West Dies at 81," Post and Courier, March 22, 2004, pp. 1a, 9A; and "John C. West Mourned as Humble Man of Service," Post and Courier, March 24, 2004, pp. 1B, 6B) (DH)
WESTMORELAND, JAMES RIPLEY ("RIP")
1876-1964. Class of 1900. Chairman of The Board of Visitor, 1949-1957. His portrait hangs in the Daniel Library. He was the father of General William Westmoreland of Vietnam fame. (Source: Dennis D. Nicholson, Jr., A History of The Citadel: the Years of Summerall and Clark, see page references in index. U430 .C5 N53 1994) (HN)
WESTMORELAND, WILLIAM CHILDS
1914-2005. General, U.S.A. Born in Spartanburg County, S.C. Attended The Citadel for one year, 1932-1933. Graduated from the U. S. Military Academy, West Point, 1936. Served in World War II, Korea and the Cold War. President Eisenhower appointed him Superintendent of West Point, 1960. In 1964 he was appointed deputy commander, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam; six months later, he was promoted to general and placed in command in Vietnam (1964-68). He then served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, then retired from the Army, 1972. In retirement he resided in Charleston. During the 1990s he head the City's efforts to erect a statue of General George Washington in Washington Park, behind City Hall. (Sources: Wiliam C. Westmoreland, A Soldier Reports. DS559.5 .W47 1976; George C. Herring, "Westmoreland, William Childs," Dictionary of American Military Biography, vol. 3, pp. 1179-1183. REFERENCE U52 .D53 1984 v. 3; Terry Joyce, "Westmoreland Dies at 91," Post and Courier, July 19, 2005, pp. 1A, 11A ) (DH)
WHISTLER, JAMES ABBOTT MCNEILL
1834-1903. Whistler attended West Point but was discharged for failing chemistry. This caused him to abandon the military and make painting his life's work. By happy circumstance, his huge easel resides in the Daniel Library. It was a 1988 gift of M. John Lenhardt, a painter and an education professor at The Citadel. Whistler willed his easel to his assistant who in turn willed it to his assistant who happened to be Lenhardt. (Source: Daniel Library Administative Files)(DH)
WHITE, MAJOR JAMES BENJAMIN
3 April 1828-11 June 1906. Class of 1849. Superintendent of The Citadel, 1861-1865. Col. White was the commander of The Citadel cadets at the Battle of Tulifinny Creek. His portrait hangs in the Daniel Library. It was painted by Grace DuPre, a grandaughter of Col. Stevens, who also graduated from The Citadel in 1849, and who preceded Maj. White as Superintendent. [Sources Gary R. Baker, Cadets in Gray (see page references in index). E470.65 .B3 1989; Oliver J. Bond, The Story of The Citadel (see page references in index). U430 .C5 B57 1989] (HN)
WHITTINGTON, CURTIS
Class of 1962. Master cabinet maker. Made the Insel Military Display Cases in the Daniel Library in honor of his parents, Herman (Class of 1936) and Jewel Insel. They house the Gavaghan and Kogan collections of military miniatures. (HN)
WHIZ KIDS
The Citadel basketball team was called this while Norm Sloan, of N.C. State fame, was the coach. One of the star players was Musselman. The term ceased to be used after 1960. Source: Sphinx, 1956-1959.)
WIDDER MEDAL
This medal was established in honor of Cpt. David Widder, a 1959 graduate who was killed in action in Vietnam on 24 March 1965. It is presented to the outstanding Distinguished Military Student in Army ROTC. (Source: Guidon, 2002-2003, p. 198) (HN & DH)
WIDEMAN, SAMUEL
Class of 1929. Head of the chemistry department, 1956-1968. The 175 seat auditorium in Byrd Hall is named in his honor. Member of the Board of Visitors, 1969-1975. (HN)
WILDMAN, STEVEN M.
Capt. USAF. Class of 1970. H Company. Has memorial plaque on the grass near Summerall Chapel. Dedicated November 1973. It is inscribed as follows:
    In Memoriam
    Captain Steven Michael Wildman
    Class - 1970 H Company
    Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
    and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings...
    put out my hand and touched the face of God.
    Highflight - John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
WILES, A. G. D.
1906-82. Americus George David Wiles was an author and Citadel Professor of English, 1936-60. PhD Princeton University, 1934. Joined Citadel faculty in 1936. Colonel Wiles was a distinguished teacher and was renowned for his knowledge of Citadel history and lore. Published scholarly articles on Sir Philip Sidney and wrote The Boys Behind the Gun: The Citadel Cadets Who Fired the First Shot on the "Star of the West" (PRIOLEAU ROOM E471.1 .W75 1979, and copy at Daniel Library Circulation Desk). Editor of the Sphinx and Citadel literary publications. Chaired the Library Committee and was instrumental in promoting the drive to construct Daniel Library. (Sources: Dan Ruff, "A Legend at The Citadel, 1936-60: A. G. D. Wiles," paper given at South Carolina Historical Association annual conference, Charleston, 2002; A. G. D. Wiles Papers, Citadel Archives) (DH)
WILLIAMS, ARLAND DEAN, JR.
Arland D. Williams, Jr., Class of 1957, died a hero in the Air Florida Crash, 13 January 1982, that claimed 79 lives. Of the 74 passengers 68 were killed on impact. Included in this number was George G. Mattar, Citadel class of 1963. Six passengers were alive in the frigid waters of the Potomac as rescue helicopters circled overhead, dropping a lifeline to crash survivors. Repeatedly refusing rescue Williams insisted on passing the line to others until the other five had been carried to safety. When the rescue helicopter returned one final time to pick up the last survivor, Williams could not be found. A portion of the 14th Street bridge in Washington was named after him. President Ronald Reagan awarded him posthumously the Coast Guard Gold Lifesaving Medal. When he died Williams was directing bank examiner of the Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta. In his honor The Citadel created the Arland D. Williams Society to recognize graduates who distinguished themselves through community service. The first recipients are E. B. Peeples, Jr., class of 1939 and Benjamin F. Webster, Class of 1957, are the first recipients. According to Webster, William's nickname was "Chub." The Citadel also established the Arland D. Williams Endowed Professorship of Heroism in his honor. The first two recipients have been Col. Oliver Bowman, former professor of psychology, and Lt.Col. Julie Ann Lipovsky, professor of psychology. (Sources: "In Memoriam," Sphinx, 1983, p. 395; "Reagan Honors Hero of Potomac Air Crash," Washington Post, June 7, 1983, p. A18; "Bridge Renamed for Air Crash Hero," Washington Post, March 14, 1985, p. C4; Charlene Gunnells, "Citadel Award Honors Memory of a Hero," Post & Courier, Nov. 2, 2000, pp. 1B, 6B; The Guidon, 1999-2000, p. 41) (HN & DH)
WILLINGHAM, CALDER
1922-1995. Famous author who attended The Citadel in 1940. He based his first book, End as a Man (PS3545 .I4565 E5 1947) , on his life at The Citadel. It was later made into the 1957 film, The Strange One, starring Ben Gazzara, George Peppard, and Pat Hingle. He went on to write other well-known novels and screenplays. Among his more famous were One-Eyed Jacks, Little Big Man, The Graduate, and The Vikings. (Sources: Twentieth Century Authors: First Supplement, pp. 1091-2, REFERENCE. PN771 .K86; "End as a Man," Book Review Digest 1947, REFERENCE; Dictionary of Literary Biography, vols. 2 and 44. REF PN501 .D5 v. 2 and 44.) (HN)
WILLSON, JOHN O.
27 January 1845-23 March 1923. Class of 1862 but never graduated because of the Civil War. Member of the illustrous Cadet Company during the Civil War. He later became and attorney and a minister. From 1894-1902 he was the editor of the Southern Christian Advocate. From 1904 until his death he ws president of Lander College. The street and the field near The Citadel Apartment Building is named for him. Unfortunately, the street signs spell his name with only one "l," but the map of the campus in The Guidon spells it correctly. (Sources: Who Was Who in America, vol. 1, 1897-1942, p. 1358. REFERENCE E176 .W64; "The John O. Willson Ring," Sphinx, 1952, p. 219) (HN)
WINDOW GRILLES
The window griiles (or grills) at the rear of Grimsley Hall (b. 1991) are quite renowned. They were made by Christopher Werner in 1830. Werner was the same person who made the famous sword gates at 31 Legare Street in Charleston. Both the gates and the window grilles were first installed in the old guard house that stood at the southwest corner of Meeting and Broad Streets, where the post office is now located.
    On the night of 1 August 1886, the great earthquake hit Charleston. The old guard house was destroyed, forcing the municipal police to seek other quarters. A new guard house was constructed on a tract of land just west of the old Citadel on Marion Square. The window grilles were removed and installed on its ground floor. Meanwhile, the gates were sold to the Simonton family who installed them at their present location on Legare Steet (the Sword Gate House). The lantern that is now over the gates was bought from an old house which formerly stood on Beaufain Street. The gates and the windows thus became separated.
    Years later The Citadel bought the guard house building. The police moved to Vanderhorst and St. Philip Streets, but did not take window grilles with them. When The Citadel moved to its present location in 1922, the windows were brought along and installed in Alumni Hall. Not all the grilles were able to be used when Grimsley Hall replaced Alumni Hall. One of the grilles was used to make a table for General Grimsley. The remaining iron was damaged and discarded.
On the sword window grilles, see: Mary Ellen Zeigler, "Mates of Sword Gates In Use at The Citadel," News and Courier, May 15, 1967, p. 11-A; "Window Grills in Alumni Hall Made by Werner," Bull Dog, April 8, 1938, p. 3; photo of Lesesne Gate, News and Courier, May 29, 1964, Special Citadel Supplement, p. 4-E.
On Christopher Werner and his ironwork in Charleston see: Alston Deas, The Early Ironwork of Charleston, pp. 30-32. PRIOLEAU ROOM NK8212 .S6 D4 1941; Charles N. Bayless, Charleston Ironwork: A Photographic Study, OVERSIZE 2nd floor NK8212 .B39 1987; Jonathan H. Poston, The Buildings of Charleston, pp. 32, 206, 249, 511. REFERENCE NA735 .C35 P67 1997. (HN & DH)
WINDOWS
There are 1019 windows in Stevens Barracks, home of the 4th Battalion. (HN)
WITSELL, EDWARD F.
Class of 1911. Major General U.S.A. Former Adjutant General.
WOMEN
1966 Coeducational undergraduate program established.
1968 Coeducational graduate program established. There have always been more women than men in this program.
1993 Shannon Faulkner admitted then rejected by The Citadel after they discovered she was a female.
1993 Multi-million dollar lawsuit instituted by ACLU against The Citadel on behalf of Shannon Faulkner. Their attorney was Robert Black, a former Citadel English professor. They were asking $5.2 million.
1994 Lu Parker, Citadel MAT, 1992, becomes Miss U.S.A.
1994 The Citadel's co-educational graduate program renamed College of Graduate and Professional Studies.
1995 Shannon Faulkner admitted as the first female cadet but she withdrew shortly.
1996 Four women enter The Citadel as cadets: Mace, Lovetinska, Messer, and Mentavlos.
1997 Messer and Mentavlos sue The Citadel because of alleged harassment.
1997 Messer settles out of court for $34,000.
1999 Mentavlos sues The Citadel for $4 million.
1999 Mace, having transferred credits from Trident Tech becomes the first female graduate of the Corps of Cadets.
2000 Lovetinska becomes the second female graduate from the Corps of Cadets. She entered as a foreign student but became a U.S. citizen before she graduated.
2002 First seven female African American cadets graduate.
For a concise survey of the history of women in the South Carolina Corps of Cadets, see: Brian Hicks, "Coed Corps: 10 Years of Change," Post and Courier, Sept. 5, 2005, pp. 1A, 9A. See also: Marcia G. Synnott, "Surviving the Company of Men--In the Company of Women: Lessons from the Corps of Cadets at Virginia Tech, The Citacel, and the Virginia Military Institute," Proceedings of the South Carolina Historical Association, 2003, pp. 63-80 (HN & DH)
WOODWARD, WILLIAM E.
2 October 1874-27 September 1950. Class of 1893. Woodward was one of the most prolific authors ever to have graduated from The Citadel. Books: Bunk, 1923; Lottery, 1924; Bread and Circuses, 1925; George Washington, the Image and the Man, 1926; Meet General Grant, 1928, Money for Tomorrow, 1932; Evelyn Prentice, 1933; A New American History, 1936; Lafayette, 1938; The Way Our People Lived, 1944; Tom Payne, America's Godfather, 1945; The Gift of Life (Autobiography), 1947; Years of Madness, 1951. (Sources: Stanley Kunitz, Twentieth Century Authors, p. 1547. REF PN771 .W67; Biography Index. 1950; Who Was Who In America, 1951-60, p. 939. REF E176 W64 1951-60) (HN & DH)
WOOTEN ROLAND FRANKLIN, JR.
1915-1968. Class of 1936. Famous World War II ace in the European theatre. One of the most highly decorated Citadel graduates and the most decorated Citadel alumnus of World War II. He flew more than 200 missions in Europe. He was shot down three times and spent eight months in a German prison camp. He won the Distinguished Flying Cross with cluster, Air Medal and 21 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Purple Heart wtih cluster. Attained the rank of Major in the US Air Corps/Air Force. Named by President Kennedy as U. S. Postmaster for Charleston, 1961. (Sources: South Caroina Lives, p. 673. REF F268 .D8; Stewart R. King, "Roland Wooten Dies in Plane Crash," News and Courier, Feb. 26, 1968, pp. 1A, 9A; "Wooten Loved Thrill of Flying," News and Courier, Feb. 27, 1968, pp. 1A-2A) (HN & DH)
WORKMAN, WILLIAM DOUGLAS, JR.
1914-1990. Newspaper reporter and editor, author. Class of 1935. Associate editor of The State, 1963-66; editor, 1966-73. Republican candidate for governor of S. C., 1982. Author of The Case for the South (E185.61 .W93), The Bishop From Barnwell; The Political Life and Times of Senator Edgar A. Brown (F274 .B7 W6); and co-author of Charles E. Daniel, His Philosophy and Legacy (CT259 .D3 C3) (Source: Who Was Who in America, vol. 10, 1989-1993. REFERENCE E176. W64 1989-1993) (DH)
WORLD WAR I
316 Citadel graduates served in the armed forces in World War I. "The roll of ex-cadets is incomplete, but was probably as great." Most were commissioned officers. This includes officers: 8 colonels, 9 lieutenant colonels, 23 majors, 1 commmander, 5 lieutenant commanders, 98 (army) captains, 60 first lieutenants, 63 second lieutenants, 9 (navy) lieutenants, 10 sergeants, 7 corporals, and 22 privates. (Source: Oliver J. Bond, The Story of The Citadel, pp. 190-191. U430 .C5 B57 1989) The first Citadel graduate to be killed in World War I was Lt. Montague Nichols. This occurred while he was serving with the British Royal Artillery in Flanders in 1915, before the United States even entered the war. The first Citadel graduate to be killed serving with the U.S. force was John David. (HN)
WORLD WAR II
6,300 Citadel men served in World War II. (Source: Charleston Evening Post. Dec. 7, 1945, p. 12A.) 282 Citadel men gave their lives in World War II. (Source:War Memorial Albums in Citadel Archives & Museum) About 200 names of those who died can be found in the same issue of the Evening Post cited above. This list is not complete since a number of military people at this time were only listed as missing in action. (HN)
WORTH, MARY
Mrs. Dufour, a former Citadel hostess in the 1950s and 1960s, bore a resemblance to the comic strip character, Mary Worth. She was also reputed to have given advice freely. (HN)
WPA
Acronym for the Works Progress Administration of the 1930s. In 1939 it was renamed the Works Projects Administration. It was developed to give jobs to the unemployed. In 1939 it built The Citadel Armory that was later renamed McAllister Field House. Bond Hall has a plaque at the rear entrance indicating that the rear addition was built by the WPA. (HN)
WRESTLING - CITADEL
The Citadel won the Southern Conference Wrestling Championship for the first time in 1967. The matches took place at Morgantown, W. Va., March 4-5, 1967.
WRITING CENTER
The Writing Center provides free writing services to students, faculty and staff. The Center's activity involves one-on-one consulations, private and group consultations, and workshops. Located in Thompson Hall. (Source: Brigadier, 2002-2003, p. 141)(HN)
WYCHE, CECIL CHARLES
1885-1966. Class of 1906. Wyche first became a U.S. Judge on 30 January 1937. With the resignation of Judge Mel G. Underwood on 5 November 1965, Judge Wyche became the senior U.S. Judge, in terms of service, in the entire United States. (HN)

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