Two presented with Citadel’s Palmetto Medals

A standout on the football field and a man whose engineering legacy spans the nation were honored Saturday, March 15, 2008, with The Citadel’s Palmetto Medal.

Duran Lawson, '08

The Palmetto Medal is one of the highest honors the Military College of South Carolina can bestow upon someone. It is presented annually to cadets, faculty, staff or alumni in recognition of exceptional performance that reflects great credit on The Citadel or the state of South Carolina.

This year’s recipients are Cadet Capt. Duran Lavon Lawson, captain of the Bulldog football team, and Maj. Gen. Carroll N. LeTellier, a distinguished military graduate of The Citadel Class of 1949.

The awards were presented during the Saturday, March 15, 2008, military dress parade held in honor of Corps Day. One of the most highly attended Citadel events, the Corps Day tradition began on March 20, 1843, a year after the college’s inception.

A native of Conway, S.C., Cadet Lawson of Romeo Company was honored for his leadership in the South Carolina Corps of Cadets where he holds the rank of captain as well as for his leadership on the football field as team captain this year. A business administration major, Lawson is scheduled to graduate in May and will receive a commission from the U.S. Army.

Carroll N. LeTellier. '49

Lawson was starting quarterback for The Citadel Bulldogs. He was twice named Southern Conference Player of the Week and was named to the All-Southern Conference Second Team. Lawson was ranked second in the Southern Conference in passing and third in total offense in 2006. Under his leadership the Bulldogs ranked fifth in the nation in scoring offense with more than 40 points per game and ninth in the nation in total offense, averaging over 440 yards per game. A knee injury ended his senior season early but Lawson continued an active leadership role from the sidelines.

Maj. Gen. Carroll N. LeTellier served in the Army for 27, including the Korean and Vietnam wars. He is the recipient of the U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with four oak leaf clusters and the Bronze Star Medal with “V” and four oak leaf clusters. 

Upon his retirement from the Army in 1976, LeTellier worked as a vice president and director for Sverdrup Corp., an international engineering, architectural, and construction firm. For 17 years he took leadership roles in projects ranging from the Interstate 95 sunken tube tunnel to the Super Dome in New Orleans to the Harvard Square Metro Station. LeTellier was instrumental as a consultant for Sverdrup during the early phases of construction of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge that spans Charleston’s Cooper River. He lives in Charleston.

LeTellier is an active alumnus having been named The Citadel Alumni Association Alumnus of the Year in 1998 and a Distinguished Life Member in 2002. In 1999 he received an honorary degree from The Citadel. LeTellier currently serves as the South Carolina Citadel Volunteer chairman. In 2003, LeTellier was inducted into The National Academy of Engineering, one of the highest professional distinctions awarded to an engineer. LeTellier Hall, home to the School of Engineering, is named in honor of his father, Col. Louis S. LeTellier, who was head of the civil engineering department for many years.