At Southern, They Grow Generals

Retired Army Brig. Gen. Jude W. P. Patin

Retired Army Brig. Gen. Jude W. P. Patin, one of nine generals to emerge from Southern University's ROTC program, still promotes military service as a career even though today's students have far more options than he did when he graduated in 1962.

Patin, who retired after a 30-year career in the Army and four years as Louisiana's secretary of transportation and development, says he's proud of the way U.S. troops in Iraq have represented the country and carried themselves. The renewed pride and respect in the military that they have generated will likely influence other young people to consider the possibilities offered by a career in the Army or one of the other services, he said.

Patin hails from a proud tradition at the largest historically black college system in the country. Southern has produced nine generals -- more than any other HBCU -- and scores of members of the officer corps since the ROTC program began in 1948.

Retired Brig. Gen. Sherian Cadoria

One of them is a woman, retired Brig. Gen. Sherian Cadoria, a 1961 graduate who served in Vietnam and moved up to brigadier general in 1985. When she retired in 1990, she was one of only four women Army generals and the highest-ranking African American woman in the Army, according to the Louisiana State Archives. She resides in her home town of Marksville, La.

"For Sherian Cadoria, being the first and only woman to be promoted to brigadier general was a great accomplishment because women were not integrated into the U.S. Army until the mid-1970s," said Lt. Col. Leslie Broadway, assistant professor of military science at Southern.

Every year, more than 125 students enroll in Army ROTC courses. Many students perceive ROTC as a good way to pick up leadership skills. But Broadway and his colleagues say they are dismayed that many students haven't been interested in a military career.

"Almost every year we meet great students who enroll in courses and excel. We oftentimes ask them to stay in the department and they just choose not to," said Master Sgt. Vincent Sims Sr.

ROTC and the Army were appealing choices when many other professional careers were not available to blacks. But those aren’t the only reasons why Southern's program produced a stream of high-ranking officers.

"Southern is the largest black university system in the United States, and in the 1950s, blacks wanted to attend a historical black college and university. At that time, the choices of majors were limited, and many students who were not initially interested in military science found that major to be the best choice," said Broadway.

"Also, during the 1950s [to] 1970s, it was mandatory for freshman and sophomore males to enroll in military science, so many became interested during their two years of exposure," said Broadway.

The professors of military science attribute the success of the department to teaching fundamentals that can be adapted to enhance success in any area.

"We teach leadership development, building of strength on weaknesses, time management skills, discipline and making a difference in your surroundings," said Maj. Ronald Campbell, recruitment, enrollment and scholarship officer.

Patin agrees. "Southern and the ROTC department gave me the tools to function in a highly competitive world. The Army gave me the opportunity to put them in action."

Besides Patin and Cadoria, Southern also claims:

Retired Lt. Gen. Joe N. Ballard. A 1965 graduate who served in Vietnam, Ballard majored in electrical engineering and became head of his own engineering firm. He lives in Davidsonville, Md., according to the Army.

Retired Brig. Gen. Donald Delandro. Another Vietnam veteran, Delandro graduated in 1956 and became brigadier general in 1982. A business major, he owns Affordable Supply Co., a janitorial services company in Washington, D.C.

Retired Lt. Gen. Edward Honor. In 1980, Honor became the first Southern University ROTC graduate to be promoted to general officer. He received a degree in education in 1954. He served in Vietnam and retired from the Army in 1989. He became president of the National Defense Transportation Association, which links private industry transportation professionals with government officials for projects, and retired from that post last year. He serves on the board of The Rocks, Inc., an organization of active duty, reserve, retired and former commissioned officers that has a Buffalo Soldiers chapter and visits HBCUs to provide career development guidance to ROTC students. He lives in Fairfax Station, Va., according to Army records.

Retired Maj. Gen. Charles Honore. He graduated in 1956 and received his officer's rank in 1982. A geography major, he also served in the Vietnam War. When he retired, he was deputy commanding general of the 5th Army. He lives in San Antonio, according to the Army.

Maj. Gen. Russell Honore. Honore is involved in homeland security as the commander of the standing joint force in Norfolk, Va. On Aug. 1, he returned to Southern to be commencement speaker for the summer graduates.

Retired Maj. Gen. Gregory Rountree. After receiving his degree in psychology in 1970, he served in the Vietnam War. He retired from the Army in May.

Retired Maj. Gen. Isaac D. Smith. After majoring in agriculture, Smith graduated in 1954. In 1982, he received his general officer’s rank and served in Vietnam. He retired in 1989 and serves as a consultant to numerous companies, according to the Army. He is a board member of The Rocks, Inc., heading the board's ROTC Enhancement Committee. He lives in Alexandria, Va.

Kendra Toussant is a student at Southern University and writes for the Southern Digest.

Posted Aug. 5, 2003