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Established in 2016, Tuskegee University’s ROTC Hall of Fame honors individuals who have exemplified the attributes of leadership, integrity, moral courage and self-discipline commonly associated with military service. Those eligible for induction include Tuskegee graduates, former students and others who are or have been commissioned into the U.S. armed forces, participated in the university’s ROTC programs, or earned a commission upon graduating and pursued military service as a career are eligible for induction — provided they meet other rank or meritorious service requirements.  Read the complete History.

                 

Tuskegee University ROTC Hall of Fame
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Photo of Col. Anthony Aiken in uniform     Photo of Col. Teresa Townsend in uniform     Photo (b/w) of Col Lewis Jackson in uniform

COLONEL ANTHONY AIKEN
Chairman, TU ROTC HoF
Board of Directors

     COLONEL TERESA F. TOWNSEND
Executive Director, TU ROTC HoF
Board of Directors
     COLONEL LOUIS MYLES JACKSON
Vice Chair, TU ROTC HoF
Board of Directors

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During Col. Aiken's military career, which spanned over 26 years, he was widely regarded as one of the U.S. Army's leading military officers. Throughout his domestic and international military experiences, he provided leadership in the fields of military sciences, and technical support services to military units around the world.

Col. Aiken, a disabled Veteran who became legally Bblind in 2011, attended Blind Rehab Training at the Birmingham VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL.  In March 2015, Col. Aiken and his supportive wife, Brenda, formed “Visually Impaired Veterans of America, Incorporated (VIVA, Inc.).  The mission of VIVA is to assist visually impaired veterans with funding for transportation to attend Blind Rehabilitation Training; and to purchase personal items at the hospital post exchange during their inpatient stay at the Birmingham Veterans Administration (VA) Healthcare Facility.

Prior to his retirement, Col Aiken served as Senior Staff Officer, Base Realignment and Closure Office (1996 - 1998) at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado. He served as Deputy Director, Medical Readiness Operations of the Central Health Service Support Area (1994  - 1995). He also served as Commander, U.S. Army Environmental Hygiene Activity - West (1992 - 1994).

Some of his honors and awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Award,  Humanitarian Service Medal, Legion of Merit, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal, and Army Commendation Service Awards. 

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In 2016, Col. (Ret.) Teresa Townsend was inducted into the Tuskegee University ROTC Hall of Fame as a charter member.

Col. Townsend was commissioned into the U.S. Army in 1985 through the Tuskegee Institute (now University) Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program. Over her 30 year military career, she served in command and staff positions in the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserve. Her awards and decorations include the Joint Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the GWOT Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hourglass and M Device, the Korea Defense Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon. 

Col. Townsend also holds a Master of Education-English from Alabama A&M University and earned master’s level certification in Educational Leadership at Troy University.   

Col. Townsend retired in 2015, and now serves as the Senior Army Instructor at Daleville High School JROTC. She is the president of the Daleville Education Association and was recently elected as the president of the JROTC Section of the Alabama Career and Technical Education and serves on the JROTC Program Advisory Committee for U.S. Army Cadet Command.
  

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In 2016, Col. Louis Myers Jackson was inducted into the Tuskegee University ROTC Hall of Fame as a charter membe.

EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science, Chemistry – Tuskegee Institute (1967); Master of Arts, Physical Chemistry – Duke University (1974); Master of Business Administration – Long Island University (1978); US Army War College (1985); US Army Command and General Staff College (1979); Executive Management Program, Fuqua School of Business, Duke University (1992); Army Chemical Officer Advanced Course; Army Air Defense Artillery Basic Officer Course.

HONORS: Dept of Defense Superior Service Medal (2); Army Legion of Merit (3); Bronze Star (2); Army Meritorious Service Medal (3); Combat Air Medals (8); Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device; Army Commendation Medal. Senior VP, Parsons Corp; Asst Professor of Chemistry, US Military Academy. COO, Horne Engineering Services, Inc.

UNDERGRADUATE YEARS: Jackson entered Tuskegee Institute in 1963 and became a member of the ROTC. He entered the Advance ROTC Program - one of the first US Army ROTC Scholarship winners at Tuskegee Institute in 1965. Jackson was initiated into the Tuskegee Institute Chapter, The Gamma Epsilon of Kappa Alpha Psi in 1965.  Upon graduation from Tuskegee in 1967 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the US Army where he served until 1995, retiring with the rank of Colonel.

ALUMNI YEARS: Dean of Pledges - Colorado Springs (CO) Alumni Chapter; Charter Member of the Anchorage Alaska Alumni Chapter; The Kansas City (MO) Alumni Chapter; The Anniston (AL) Alumni Chapter; The Woodbridge (VA) Alumni Chapter. Member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation Million Dollar Club; a Senior Kappa Endowment contributor, Kappa Foundation of Woodbridge Board of Directors. 

PROFESSIONAL YEARS: Jackson was commissioned in the US Army Chemical Corps, later served a combat tour in the Republic of Vietnam. Among his varied military assignments were Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the United States Military Academy at West Point; Joint Chiefs of Staff Representative to the United Nations Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland;

        PHOTOGALLERY AND HISTORY

Picture slideshow of Hall of Fame inductees, guest speakers, and special guests
Tuskegee Airmen at the 2020 Hall of Fame breakfast were featured with dignitaries: Governor Kay Ivey, Senator Billy Beasley, and State Representative Pebblin Warren.

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2017 HoF group photo
2017 HoF group photo
Award to Col. Roosevelt Lewis. L-R: Col. Palmer Sullens, Col. Anthony Aikens, Dr. Gwen Moore, Col. Teresa Townsend, and Dr. Ruby Perry.
Award to Col. Roosevelt Lewis. L-R: Col. Palmer Sullens, Col. Anthony Aikens, Dr. Gwen Moore, Col. Teresa Townsend, and Dr. Ruby Perry.
2023 HoF group.
2023 HoF group.
Award presented to HoF recipient.
Award presented to HoF recipient.
March 8, 2020 photo of Mayor Tony Haygood, City Councilman Johnny Ford, Col. Anthony Aikens, and a special guest.
March 8, 2020 photo of Mayor Tony Haygood, City Councilman Johnny Ford, Col. Anthony Aikens, and special guest.
Award presentation.
Award presentation.
Award presentation.
Award presentation.
2023 ROTC Hall of Fame Inductees
2023 ROTC Hall of Fame Inductees presented at Pre-Homecoming Game Ceremony.
Phelps Hall, former building of ROTC on campus.
Phelps Hall, former home of TU ROTC.

HISTORY OF THE TU ROTC HALL OF FAME

The Tuskegee University Reserve Officer Training Corps Hall of Fame (TU ROTC HoF) was established as the result of a dream by Colonel Anthony C. Aiken, Sr., U.S. Army, Retired, a 1972 Distinguished Military Graduate of the Army ROTC Program. During his career, he associated with Commissioned Officers from other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) who spoke highly of the ROTC Halls of Fame at their respective alma maters. As the sun rose on a spring morning in 1995, it germinated a mustard seed idea to establish the ROTC Hall of Fame at Tuskegee University. Recognizing the rich military heritage at Tuskegee, from the foundation laid by the Tuskegee Airmen, building forward to include other giants such as Colonel Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., and his father Brigadier General Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., Tuskegee University’s first Professor of Military Science and Tactics; Colonel Aiken believed the time was right to push forward and make this dream a reality.

After meeting with key Tuskegee University officials, the Board of Trustees, and leaders of the Departments of Military Science, Aerospace Studies, and Naval Science, the first organizational meeting was held during the 2012 Homecoming festivities. A reception for military alumni was held at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center on Tuskegee University's campus. For the next three years, these gatherings were held under the leadership of COL Aiken, Chairman, Colonel Lewis 'Lou' Jackson, Retired, Vice Chairman; and Colonel Teresa Townsend, US Army Retired, Executive Director, with attendance increasing each year. Planning and research continued, many teleconferences were held, emails and other correspondence were exchanged. Key in establishing the written Constitution and Bylaws of the TU ROTC HoF was Lieutenant Colonel Milton Davis, USAF Retired, who provided invaluable legal support in the formation of the organization. 

2016
With full support from the University administration and the Military Departments, the inaugural TU ROTC HoF Induction Ceremony was held October 16, 2016. The Charter Class consisted of 53 Army and Air Force General Officers, Colonels, Senior Executive Service professionals, and others who had made significant contributions to Tuskegee’s rich military heritage. This includes Honorary Members Charles Alfred “Chief” Anderson, the legendary pilot who flew First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Mrs. Ruth Evans, the well-loved and long-time secretary of the Army ROTC program, and Tuskegee graduates who gave the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War in the defense of our Nation.

2017
The following year, on October 27, 2017, nineteen great Americans and Alumni, including the first Navy officers, were inducted into the TU ROTC HoF.

2018
The year 2018 permanently enshrined four (4) Army, three (3) Air Force, two (2) Navy officers, and Senior Executive Service officer into the TU ROTC HoF. Major General Frederic H. Leigh, US Army Retired, and Air Force TU ROTC HoF)James A. Tinsley and Lieutenant Colonel Robert L. Tinsley were inducted as Honorary Members.

2019
On November 19, 2019, five (5) new members were inducted into the TU ROTC HoF): Brigadier General Tim Boddie, USAF Retired, Colonel Clarence Johnson, US Army Retired and Senior Executive Service (SES); Lieutenant Colonel Richard Allen, US Army Retired, and CPT Donald Silvey, US Army.

2020
March 7, 2020, a Special ceremony was held to induct Brigadier General Charles Edward McGhee, USAF, Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Eugene Carter, USAF Retired and the Tuskegee Airman’s Original 99th Fighter Squadron.

Despite the worldwide COVID-19 Pandemic, through the miracle of technology and the unmerited favor of God, we made history by conducting the first (and we hope the ONLY) virtual TU ROTC Hall of Fame induction ceremony. On December 4, 2020, we were honored to welcome seven (7) into the TU ROTC HoF. Those present were recognized.

From the US Army: 

  • Brigadier General Harold Burch, US Army Retired (deceased)
  • Colonel Craig Dexter, US Army Retired and
  • Colonel Willie Boyd, US Army Retired

From the US Air Force:

  • Lieutenant Colonel Harold Davis, USAF Retired 
  • Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Dothard, Jr., USAF Retired
  • Lieutenant Colonel Robert Western, USAF Retired
  • Captain John Allen, USAF

Each TU ROTC Hall of Fame inductee has become a part of Tuskegee’s storied military history. The images and names affixed to this montage are a permanent tribute to the contributions Tuskegee ROTC alumni have made —- and continue to make -- not only to Mother Tuskegee, but to our Armed Forces, to the United States of America and to the world.

  

INDUCTEES

2016 Charter Inductees

2016 Army Charter Inductees

2016 & 2017 Charter Inductees

Banner showing photos of 2016 ROTC Hall of Fame inductees

Banner showing photos of 2016 Army ROTC Hall of Fame inductees

Banner showing photos of 2017 ROTC Hall of Fame inductees

2018 Inductees

2020 & 2022 Inductees

Hall of Fame 2018 Inductees

Hall of Fame 2020 inductees