William G. McDonald – Colonel, United States Air Force

From a contemporary press report

William G. McDonald, 80, a retired Air Force colonel who had a second career in civilian government work, died of leukemia October 3, 1999 at Suburban Hospital. He had lived in Chevy Chase since 1963.

He served in uniform for 27 years before retiring in 1970. He then was a budget analyst with the Office of Management and Budget, information systems director of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and executive director of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission before retiring
altogether in 1990.

Colonel McDonald, who was born in Providence, Rhode Island, was a graduate of the University of Tulsa and received a master’s degree in political science from Columbia University. He joined the Army Air Forces in World War II. Over the years, his assignments included tours as a professor at the U.S. Military Academy and as political science department chairman at the U.S. Air Force Academy. His last military assignment was as administrative director of the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence.

He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Agnes G., of Chevy Chase; three sons, William Jr., of Copake, N.Y., Francis L., of Silver Spring, and M. Brian, of Albuquerque; a daughter, Katherine McDonald Gibbons of  Tampa, Fla.; a sister; and five grandchildren.

McDONALD, WILLIAM G., Col., USAF (Ret.)

On Sunday, October 3, 1999, of Chevy Chase, MD, beloved husband of Agnes G. McDonald; father of William G. McDonald, Jr., Francis L. and his wife, Alida M. McDonald, M. Brian and his wife, Jane A. McDonald, and Catherine M. and her husband, Kirk Gibbons; grandfather of Ryan,
Matthew and Kelly McDonald, Meghan and Kevin Gibbons; brother of Alice McDonald Macintosh. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 7500 Pearl St., Bethesda, MD, Wednesday, October 13, at 1 p.m. Interment Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Camp Hill Village Foundation, Copake, NY 12516.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard