Major General (Retired) William Harvey Gourley

Major General (Retired) William Harvey Gourley
February 13, 1933 ~ August 25, 2008

MONTEREY – MG William Harvey Gourley, 75, passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his loving family, Monday, August 25, 2008. William, known as Bill, was born February 13, 1933 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Harry and Mary Jane Gourley. He was raised with his older sister and brother, Margaret and Lyn, in Philadelphia. After graduation from high school, he attended Temple University where he participated in the ROTC program, which served as the stepping stone to a 36-year career with the United States Army, and a lifetime of committed and distinguished military service. Early in his military career, Bill met Mary Quarrier Morris while stationed at Fort Ord and they were married in 1957. With their four children, Michael, Cecily, Carolyn and Mary Jane, they traveled the world and enjoyed many memorable assignments throughout the United States and extensive overseas tours including Vietnam, Turkey, Korea and Germany.
   His military education includes completion of the Infantry School, the Adjutant General School, the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and United States War College. He also held a Masters of Business Administration degree from Indiana University.
   Awards and decorations he received include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Expert Infantryman Badge, Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, and the Army General Staff Identification Badge. In June 1990, General Gourley was appointed as the Honorary Colonel of the Adjutant General's Corps Regiment.
   General Gourley's exemplary leadership inspired all who knew him. Wherever he was assigned, he had an immediate, positive impact on the officers and soldiers working for him. He established high performance standards and insisted that the focus be on the needs of commanders and soldiers, and he worked tirelessly to ensure their needs were met. "Soldiers First" became the motto of the units he commanded and was adopted as the standard throughout the entire Army personnel community.
   Bill retired from the Army on November 31, 1989, returning to Monterey with Molly. Bill's "retirement" soon became an active one as he quickly became involved in community services. He helped oversee the restructuring of Ford Ord in civilian reuse. He chaired the Monterey Regional Health Development Group, (MORE-Health), convincing the Veterans Administration it should open a satellite clinic at Fort Ord. That group is now in process of building a $130 million joint VA-Army health clinic.
   He also has served as a board member of the Visiting Nurses Association, Alliance on Aging, Monterey Bay Charter School and served as executive officer of the Community Health Plan. He was especially proud to be one of "the lads" in The Calvary. Their friendship and support through thick and thin meant the world to him.
   Bill is survived by son, Michael (Linda) of Sonora, CA; daughters, Cecily (Daniel) of Portland, OR, Carolyn (Michael) of Ojai, CA, and Mary Jane of Monterey, CA; and nine grandchildren: Lindsey, Scott, Alison, Michael, Andrew, Kathryn, Sean, Cole, and Carlyanne.  He will be lovingly remembered for the true joy that he felt while spending time with his family, and for his pride in his children and grandchildren. Bill felt very strongly about assisting others in reaching their full potential. He dedicated his life to mentoring others, creating opportunities and services for those in need, and working diligently to leave his community better than he found it. He encouraged others to do their best and led by example.
   A memorial service in Bill's honor will be held at the Fort Ord Chapel on Friday, August 29, 2008, at 3:00 P.M. He will be interred with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery on November 6, 2008. He will be greatly missed.