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In Memory Of Our Poets

Gordon Kenyon Meriwether, Jr. , CAPT, Usn (1925-2006) - Class Of 1943

Gordon Kenyon Meriwether, Jr.


1925 - 2006
Gordon Kenyon Meriwether, Jr., Husband, Father, Naval Officer, Activist, Ph.D.

Captain Gordon K. Meriwether, Jr. USNR (Retired) succumbed to complications from pneumonia in Pensacola, Florida on Friday, March 10, 2006. Gordon was born in Montgomery on March 22, 1925. He graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in 1943 and enlisted in the Navy. He received an appointment to the Naval Academy graduating with a BS in Electrical Engineering in 1948.

After graduation he married Loretto (Lovie) Love of Baltimore, Maryland. He attended flight school in Pensacola receiving his wings in 1953. He resigned his regular commission in 1955 to join his father in the family's real estate and insurance business in Montgomery while remaining active in the naval reserve.

Gordon was president of the Dixie Lion's Club of Montgomery and head of the Downtown Business Association. During the Vietnam War he was recalled to active duty and assigned to the Pentagon for duty with the National Headquarters, Selective Service. He was promoted to Captain and assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) as the head of the Committee for Employer Relations for the Guard and Reserve.

Captain Meriwether retired from the Navy in 1980 and returned to Alabama becoming actively Baldwin County community service. He was a founding member of the Josephine Volunteer Fire Department and a member of the board of the Perdido Bay Water Authority.

In retirement his educational pursuits came into focus. He attended Troy State University earning masters degrees in Management Science and Public Administration and at 73 received his Ph.D. in Public Administration at Auburn University.

Dr. Meriwether is survived by:
His wife
Lovie

Four children:
Gordon K. Meriwether, III, of Mclean, Virginia
Kitty Schaumn of Virginia Beach, Virginia
Neal Meriwether of Vienna, Virginia
Julie Schmid of Galveston, Texas

Lovie and Gordon have nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

He is also survived by his sister Mae Zifcak of Jackson, Mississippi.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to:

The Gordon Meriwether Scholarship Fund
c/o St. Benedicts School
12786 S. Illnois
Elberta Alabama 36530