Claysville’s Bill Ely, West Point class of ’33, dies at 105
Retired Lt. Gen William Ely, a former Claysville resident, returned to West Point in May almost 85 years after graduating. He died Wednesday at 105.
Lt. Gen. William Ely, World War II Army veteran and former Claysville resident, was granted a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Almost 85 years after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy, the 105-year old three-star general was invited to return to West Point and take part in the school’s alumni review. West Point’s oldest graduate died Wednesday.
High above the Hudson River, on a sunny May day, William J. Ely returned to his alma mater. Seated in a wheelchair, a spiffy suit and baseball cap, the three-star general had been invited to participate in the U.S. Military Academy’s alumni review.
As he did during his Army career, Ely led the way, heading a parade of about 4,000 cadets and laying a wreath at the school’s prominent monument, the Thayer Statue, before briefly speaking to the assembled cadets.
They were encouraging words from a man, they realized, who was the author of the autobiography “The Oldest Living Graduate” – a title that referred to their school.
William Jonas Ely, West Point class of 1933, died Wednesday in his hometown of Delray Beach, Fla., four months after that inspiring visit. A graduate of old Claysville High School, he was 105, three months shy of another birthday. (Further details of his passing were unavailable.)
Following tradition, the academy recognized Ely as its oldest living graduate, a designation that lasted nearly three years. The military was a major part of the first half of his life, during which the Greene County native served in the Army Corps of Engineers and World War II and with the Army for a collective 33 years.
But he was much more: husband to Helen, his beloved wife of 74 years, who died in 2014; father of three sons; an engineering executive; a marvelous golfer; and a golf course owner. Ely said in his book he shot his age or less more than 2,000 times, before quitting on his 100th birthday.
He also was a good buddy of Dick Cameron of East Washington.
“Bill was a very calm man, a funny guy in a way, and a dear friend,” said Cameron, who is 90. “Everyone who knew him liked him and his three sons thought so much of him. People were proud to know who he was and what he did for the United States.”
Cameron said he spoke with Ely over the phone about two months ago, when the retired lieutenant general was at an assisted living facility in Del Ray Beach. Cameron said he and his wife, Winnie, got together often with the Elys, sometimes on the course.
“Bill was small in stature, but he was not just a good golfer but a great golfer. You admired how he could chip and putt.
“His wife also was a wonderful golfer, and a wonderful woman. The two together were one of the most unbelievable couples who appeared in this part of the country.”
Ely said in his book he was born Dec. 29, 1911, on a farm near Sycamore in Greene County, then moved to another farm outside Claysville when he was 8. Cameron said Ely wanted to attend Carnegie Tech – now Carnegie Mellon University – coming out of high school, but was enamored of West Point and also applied there.
“Another student got accepted (to West Point),” Cameron said, recounting his friend’s tale. “West Point called Bill’s dad on a Saturday and said if he could come to West Point with $300 the next Saturday, he would be accepted. His dad called the president (of a local bank), and the guy said, ‘I’ll get you the $300.'”
This was near the beginning of the Depression. After graduating, Ely worked with the Army Corps and secured a master’s degree from Cornell University. His military experiences, including serving with Gen. Douglas MacArthur in the Pacific during the war and earning a number of awards: Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Bronze Star and two Legions of Merit.
Ely retired from the Army in 1966, then spent 10 years as vice president for an engineering firm in St. Louis. He later designed, built and ran Double Dam Golf Course near Claysville, which he sold in 1984 and is now called Dogwood Hills.
Dick Cameron will miss his golfing buddy.
“He was an amazing, amazing guy.”