IRBY, Richard Logan, (Major General, USA Ret.), 84, died Wednesday, March 6, 2002, in Lexington, Va. General Irby was born February 26, 1918, in Blackstone, Va., son of the late Emma Moreland Gray and William Logan Irby and married to the late Sarah Anne Short.
His long and distinguished military career began with his graduation from Virginia Military Institute in 1939 with a degree in Civil Engineering. While at VMI he played football and baseball and was inducted into the VMI Football Hall of Fame. Throughout his military career he sought out and served in the most challenging command and staff positions. Serving initially in the Cavalry and then Armor, his service took him to both the Far East and European Theaters. During W.W.II he served in China in the China, India, Burma Theater.
During the Korean War he served as a battalion commander with the 1ST Cavalry Division and was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. He commanded Division Trains, 3RD Armored Division and then commanded Combat A, 3RD Armored Division while in Germany. He was selected for promotion to Brigadier General in 1966 and served as the Assistant Division Commander for Operations 1ST Cavalry Division, Viet Nam. Upon return to Conus he served as the commander of the U.S. Army Training Center, Infantry, at Ft. Polk, Louisiana, and in 1970 he was named Commanding General at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. He was promoted to Major General and then served as the Commanding General at Ft. Lewis, Washington until his retirement in 1971 when he became the 10TH Superintendent of Virginia Military Institute, in which capacity he served for ten years.
In addition to the Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, he holds the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal with V device and two oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with V and 54 oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and the Army Combat Infantryman's Badge.
One brother, Dr. William Benjamin Irby of Mt. Pleasant, S.C. and one sister, Helen Irby Pilcher of Naples, Fla., survive him. Also, he is survived by two sons, Richard Logan Irby, Jr. and his wife, Mary Ann Neal Irby of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., William Steed Irby and his wife, Leslie Sprando of Statesboro, Ga.; a daughter, Debra Irby Mulligan and her husband, John Mulligan of Front Royal; four granddaughters, Sarah Elizabeth Irby Stasky, Mary Katherine Irby Klepchick, Erin McKenzie Irby and Laura Anne Mulligan; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at VMI's Jackson Memorial Hall on Saturday, March 9, 2002, at 2 p.m. with burial following at Stonewall Jackson Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to VMI Development Foundation. There will be a reception immediately following the burial at Moody Hall at VMI.
Arrangements are by Harrison Funeral Home, Lexington.
**Obituary courtesy of Roanoke Times newspaper**
His long and distinguished military career began with his graduation from Virginia Military Institute in 1939 with a degree in Civil Engineering. While at VMI he played football and baseball and was inducted into the VMI Football Hall of Fame. Throughout his military career he sought out and served in the most challenging command and staff positions. Serving initially in the Cavalry and then Armor, his service took him to both the Far East and European Theaters. During W.W.II he served in China in the China, India, Burma Theater.
During the Korean War he served as a battalion commander with the 1ST Cavalry Division and was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. He commanded Division Trains, 3RD Armored Division and then commanded Combat A, 3RD Armored Division while in Germany. He was selected for promotion to Brigadier General in 1966 and served as the Assistant Division Commander for Operations 1ST Cavalry Division, Viet Nam. Upon return to Conus he served as the commander of the U.S. Army Training Center, Infantry, at Ft. Polk, Louisiana, and in 1970 he was named Commanding General at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. He was promoted to Major General and then served as the Commanding General at Ft. Lewis, Washington until his retirement in 1971 when he became the 10TH Superintendent of Virginia Military Institute, in which capacity he served for ten years.
In addition to the Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, he holds the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal with V device and two oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with V and 54 oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and the Army Combat Infantryman's Badge.
One brother, Dr. William Benjamin Irby of Mt. Pleasant, S.C. and one sister, Helen Irby Pilcher of Naples, Fla., survive him. Also, he is survived by two sons, Richard Logan Irby, Jr. and his wife, Mary Ann Neal Irby of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., William Steed Irby and his wife, Leslie Sprando of Statesboro, Ga.; a daughter, Debra Irby Mulligan and her husband, John Mulligan of Front Royal; four granddaughters, Sarah Elizabeth Irby Stasky, Mary Katherine Irby Klepchick, Erin McKenzie Irby and Laura Anne Mulligan; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at VMI's Jackson Memorial Hall on Saturday, March 9, 2002, at 2 p.m. with burial following at Stonewall Jackson Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to VMI Development Foundation. There will be a reception immediately following the burial at Moody Hall at VMI.
Arrangements are by Harrison Funeral Home, Lexington.
**Obituary courtesy of Roanoke Times newspaper**
IRBY, Richard Logan, (Major General, USA Ret.), 84, died Wednesday, March 6, 2002, in Lexington, Va. General Irby was born February 26, 1918, in Blackstone, Va., son of the late Emma Moreland Gray and William Logan Irby and married to the late Sarah Anne Short.
His long and distinguished military career began with his graduation from Virginia Military Institute in 1939 with a degree in Civil Engineering. While at VMI he played football and baseball and was inducted into the VMI Football Hall of Fame. Throughout his military career he sought out and served in the most challenging command and staff positions. Serving initially in the Cavalry and then Armor, his service took him to both the Far East and European Theaters. During W.W.II he served in China in the China, India, Burma Theater.
During the Korean War he served as a battalion commander with the 1ST Cavalry Division and was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. He commanded Division Trains, 3RD Armored Division and then commanded Combat A, 3RD Armored Division while in Germany. He was selected for promotion to Brigadier General in 1966 and served as the Assistant Division Commander for Operations 1ST Cavalry Division, Viet Nam. Upon return to Conus he served as the commander of the U.S. Army Training Center, Infantry, at Ft. Polk, Louisiana, and in 1970 he was named Commanding General at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. He was promoted to Major General and then served as the Commanding General at Ft. Lewis, Washington until his retirement in 1971 when he became the 10TH Superintendent of Virginia Military Institute, in which capacity he served for ten years.
In addition to the Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, he holds the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal with V device and two oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with V and 54 oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and the Army Combat Infantryman's Badge.
One brother, Dr. William Benjamin Irby of Mt. Pleasant, S.C. and one sister, Helen Irby Pilcher of Naples, Fla., survive him. Also, he is survived by two sons, Richard Logan Irby, Jr. and his wife, Mary Ann Neal Irby of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., William Steed Irby and his wife, Leslie Sprando of Statesboro, Ga.; a daughter, Debra Irby Mulligan and her husband, John Mulligan of Front Royal; four granddaughters, Sarah Elizabeth Irby Stasky, Mary Katherine Irby Klepchick, Erin McKenzie Irby and Laura Anne Mulligan; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at VMI's Jackson Memorial Hall on Saturday, March 9, 2002, at 2 p.m. with burial following at Stonewall Jackson Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to VMI Development Foundation. There will be a reception immediately following the burial at Moody Hall at VMI.
Arrangements are by Harrison Funeral Home, Lexington.
**Obituary courtesy of Roanoke Times newspaper**
His long and distinguished military career began with his graduation from Virginia Military Institute in 1939 with a degree in Civil Engineering. While at VMI he played football and baseball and was inducted into the VMI Football Hall of Fame. Throughout his military career he sought out and served in the most challenging command and staff positions. Serving initially in the Cavalry and then Armor, his service took him to both the Far East and European Theaters. During W.W.II he served in China in the China, India, Burma Theater.
During the Korean War he served as a battalion commander with the 1ST Cavalry Division and was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. He commanded Division Trains, 3RD Armored Division and then commanded Combat A, 3RD Armored Division while in Germany. He was selected for promotion to Brigadier General in 1966 and served as the Assistant Division Commander for Operations 1ST Cavalry Division, Viet Nam. Upon return to Conus he served as the commander of the U.S. Army Training Center, Infantry, at Ft. Polk, Louisiana, and in 1970 he was named Commanding General at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. He was promoted to Major General and then served as the Commanding General at Ft. Lewis, Washington until his retirement in 1971 when he became the 10TH Superintendent of Virginia Military Institute, in which capacity he served for ten years.
In addition to the Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, he holds the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal with V device and two oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with V and 54 oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and the Army Combat Infantryman's Badge.
One brother, Dr. William Benjamin Irby of Mt. Pleasant, S.C. and one sister, Helen Irby Pilcher of Naples, Fla., survive him. Also, he is survived by two sons, Richard Logan Irby, Jr. and his wife, Mary Ann Neal Irby of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., William Steed Irby and his wife, Leslie Sprando of Statesboro, Ga.; a daughter, Debra Irby Mulligan and her husband, John Mulligan of Front Royal; four granddaughters, Sarah Elizabeth Irby Stasky, Mary Katherine Irby Klepchick, Erin McKenzie Irby and Laura Anne Mulligan; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at VMI's Jackson Memorial Hall on Saturday, March 9, 2002, at 2 p.m. with burial following at Stonewall Jackson Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to VMI Development Foundation. There will be a reception immediately following the burial at Moody Hall at VMI.
Arrangements are by Harrison Funeral Home, Lexington.
**Obituary courtesy of Roanoke Times newspaper**
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