Individual Details

Census

Ray W Albright, owns home $3500, no radio, age 34, married at age 23, Born Illinois, parents born Illinois, manager of stone quarry; Alva M, age 36, married at 25, born Texas, parents born England, Marjorie age 9, born Illinois; Donald age 7, born Illinois, Ray W. Jr, age 4 8/12, born Illinois

Occupation

In Army for 20 years. As first in his class at West Point he was able to choose his deployment and chose to be a paratrooper.

Marriage

Ernestine was a nurse in the Army Air Corp and met Donald while stationed in Korea.

Marriage

Marriage to Patrica Lou Johnson 13 Jul 1973 in Leon County, Volume 3404, certificate number 046110

Residence

Elizabeth Albright talked to Don. He had experienced a stroke and had no feeling on one side.

Death

MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly July 2001
DONALD GOULD ALBRIGHT * '46
No. 15420 * 22 Feb 1923 - 9 Apr 2000
Died at Jacksonville, FL * Cremated and ashes spread over Atlantic Ocean

Donald Gould Albright was born in Belvidere, IL. His childhood was typical for a young man in a small town during those times. He was a good student and athlete at Belvidere High School where he graduated. After attending Woodrow Wilson Junior College in Chicago, Don won his appointment to West Point where he joined the Class of 1946 on the banks of the Hudson on 1 July 1943.

Roommate, Jack Burney, was able to describe Don's life as a cadet: "Don's nickname was DG. He was a natural student and a very bright one. He studied very little and still stood high in the class. In fact, he could have stood higher if he had wanted to. Academics weren't challenging enough for him and seemed to bore him. For recreation, he read books above the level of our studies. Another diversion for DG was classical music, which he loved dearly.
"DG was very innovative. For example, after we received our class rings, DG carved "stones" in three different colors from toothbrush handles and would change colors periodically. It was difficult to tell the difference between DG's rings and those with authentic stones.
"DG had a friendly, easy going personality and an engaging, natural sense of humor. Rooming with him was a pleasure and eased the stresses of life at West Point." Don graduated as a second lieutenant in the Infantry.

After the Infantry Officer's Basic Course at Fort Benning, GA, Don's first assignment was to the 16th Infantry in Berlin, Germany. In September of 1950, during the early phases of the Korean War, Don deployed to Korea with the 187 RCT. He returned to the States to attend the Infantry Advanced Course at Ft Benning and then joined the ROTC program at Kansas State College in Manhattan, KS. Don returned to Germany in 1954 to become a company commander, 8th Infantry Regiment. Back to the States in 1957, Don was assigned to the G3 Section, Hqs, 18th Abn Corps at Fort Bragg, NC.

In 1958, Don was selected by the Foreign Language Department at West Point to attend the University of Heidelberg in Germany to study German. After a year in Heidelberg, Don became a German instructor at West Point in 1959.

Don resigned in 1961 to go into civilian life. He first earned a Masters in Education at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY. Don moved to Florida where he was involved in teacher education at FL State University in Tallahassee, FL. He then joined the Florida Department of State. First as a Cabinet Aide (a position unique to FL) to the Attorney General. He then became Director for the Study of the Cross-Florida Barge Canal and finally Director, FL Youth Conservation Corps. Don retired in 1981.

In 1973, Don married Patricia Johnson O'Keefe. She was the first Cabinet Aide to the FL Commissioner of Education. After 30 years with the Florida Commission of Education, she retired in 1980. She and Don were married by the Chief Justice of the FL Supreme Court 13 July 1973.

Don and Pat traveled extensively after they both retired. Don suffered a major stroke in 1993 and died of pulmonary fibrosis 9 April 2000.

F-1 classmate, Ed Frazer, remembered his friend: "DG and I had established a bond in Beast Barracks and on our journey to Pine Camp for maneuvers. The evening we spent in Cobbleskill, NY enroute, DG and I were invited into a home for boodle and conversation with a family with a daughter our age. They had a record player and DG selected a number of symphonies by Wagner, which he played. To me the music was fantastic and I do not believe I had ever heard it before. The evening was a great tribute to DG's intellectual taste in music. I have never forgotten that interlude and I never will. DG's memory remains bright in my mind as one of the most outstanding men I have had the privilege to know."

His loving wife, Pat, wrote that Don was a wonderful husband, loving, caring and so intelligent. She is grateful for their great 26 years. Even though Don lost contact with most of his classmates in later life, Pat recalled that he really loved West Point. So, the Class of 1946 is glad to say for him, "Well Done, Don; Be Thou At Peace!"

'46 MEMORIAL ARTICLE PROJECT AND HIS WIFE, PAT

Died of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis the same rare disease that his brother died. Both worked on the farm when young, did that have an effect on their lungs? His wife Patricia provided the information for the death certificate. Don was cremated at the Tri City Diversified at Daytona Beach, Florida.