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Richard Chilcoat Obituary
September 16, 1938 – March 16, 2010
Richard "Dick" Allen Chilcoat, 71, passed away on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at his residence in College Station. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 6, at Christ United Methodist Church in College Station. A burial service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
Dick was born on September 16, 1938, in Wilmerding, Pa., to Floyd D. and Edna B. (Moles) Chilcoat. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science degree. At West Point, Dick was Cadet First Captain and Brigade Commander of the Corps of Cadets. He received his MBA from Harvard University in 1974. He also attended the Command & General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., as well as the National War College in Washington, D.C. He was an honorary graduate of the U.S. Army War College.
He served as a member of the Board of Advisors at the Naval Postgraduate School; was a Class Trustee of the Association of Graduates at the U.S. Military Academy; was a member of the Board of Directors for the National Defense University Foundation; and more recently he served on the Board of Directors at CIA University.
On September 1, 2000, Dick retired from the U.S. Army after more than 42 years of active military service. During his transition to civilian life, he provided professional consulting services to business and academic enterprises about education, technology, executive training, and leadership. On July 1, 2001, he was named Dean of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University.
He was a frequent lecturer on the subject of professional military education, strategic leadership, visioning, transformation, and change management. From January 2001 to February 2002, he directed and facilitated the Army Strategic Leadership Course for Army general officers. During his military service, he served in a variety of leadership positions including President of the National Defense University; Commandant of the Army War College; Deputy Commanding General at Fort Jackson; Chief of Staff for the 3rd Infantry Division for the U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army; Executive Assistant to General Colin Powell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Deputy Director for Strategy, Plans and Policy, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, U.S. Army; and Senior Speechwriter to the Army Chief of Staff, General John A. Wickham Jr. At the U.S. Military Academy, he served as Assistant to the Academy Dean, Assistant Professor of Social Sciences, and was a member of the Academy Athletic Board.
Among his service awards were the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
He was preceded in death by his father and infant daughter, Lynn Ann.
Survivors include his loving wife of more than 40 years, Dixie (Lowers) Chilcoat; daughter, Sharon Ashley Chilcoat; son, Michael Allen Chilcoat; mother, Edna B. Ratliff; sister, Joanne B. Hess; and several nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank our friends in Bryan and College Station for their caring support, the Bush School and associated entities, the doctors and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Cancer Center in Bryan, and Hospice Brazos Valley for their love and support during Dick's battle with prostate and bladder cancer.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to Hospice Brazos Valley, 502 W. 26th St., Bryan, TX 77803, or the Dean Dick Chilcoat Endowed Fellowship (payable to the George Bush School, with a note in the memo line that the memorial is made "In memory of Dick Chilcoat"). Memorials may be sent to Director of Development, the Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, 4220 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4220.
Please view and sign the guestbook at www.hillierfuneralhome.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Richard Chilcoat
Jim Kimmett
April 27, 2010
Dear Dixie and family. As you know I go way back with Dick, back to the 10th grade in high school. We were buddies, and even though we had not seen much of each other over the years, when we did, we were still buddies. I've lost an important buddy, and I know your loss is unfathomable. All of Dick's school mates have been informed. Love and God's blessing to you all. Jim Kimmett
Ruben Matos
April 2, 2010
Dear Dixie, I was trading SITREPs with John Pollock the other day when we heard about the Boss. We shared many fond memories of you both. I am proud to have served you and he. I wish you peace, continued blessings and hope for solace in the knowledge that he lived life well and made a difference in this world. Warm Regards, LTC Ruben Matos
COL Bill Davis, SF (Ret)
March 30, 2010
Dear Dixie and Family,
Both Susan I were deeply shocked and saddened to hear of the General’s passing. Please accept our deepest condolences and know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. I consider myself so very blessed to have served with him at the Army War College and the Joint Forces Staff College. It was such a pleasure to be in his command. We so enjoyed his smile, his stories, his style of leadership and enthusiastic spirit. His dedication and devotion to God, Country, Family, and the Army is a legacy that will endure and transcend generations to come. As a spiritual gift to your family, we will have a Mass celebrated in Dick’s memory at Saint Anne’s Catholic Church in Pensacola Florida. With love and God’s blessing to you all,
Personal Friend
March 29, 2010
Dick Chilcoat exemplified all that was extraordinary as a Man, a Leader and a human being. It is with heartfelt gratitude to acknowledge what an incredible privilege it was to have known him. My personal condolences go out to those at the Bush School--his staff--who surrounded him and supported him with respect and a commitment for excellence. To his family for their personal loss. To those of us who knew him well and will miss his presence so greatly. And to our Country---who has just experienced an incredible loss of leadership and vision at a time when his presence is so greatly needed. Dick--it was and always will be the most honorable privilege to have experienced time with you. Your humble, gentle, genuine nature is an example for all that have known you......Our time with you will always be in our hearts and memories. Your generosity and wonderful humor will resonate with our family always. May your journey be peaceful, joyous and loving.
Rose Philips
March 23, 2010
Dear Dixie,
I am so sorry to hear of Dick's passing. I will miss him very much. He was always so nice when he came into the office to see us. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I'm sure you are taking comfort that he is no longer suffering or in pain. I hope you know I will do anything I can to help you through this sad time, and if you need to talk all you have to do is call the office. All my love, Rose Philips
Guadalupe Reyes
March 23, 2010
Dear Dixie and Family,
Connie and I wish to extend to you our prayers and condolences during this difficult time. We remember Dick as a solid and energetic person who had an unending spirit of obtimism and hope for a better time. His enthusiasm, when he first met us, gave us a feeling of importance and respect, something we will never forget. We will miss him. As for you, Dixie, you have always been at his side and have proven to be a beautiful and great friend. We wish you some comfort knowing you never failed to be there for Dick and for your close friends. Love and God Bless you always, Connie Smith and Lupe Reyes
March 22, 2010
Dear Dixie,
Sheila and I are saddened by Dean C's passing. We vividly remember the evening in 2002 when you and Dean C came over to Houston to recruit me. It is one of the main reasons we came here. I will miss Dean C and his bright outlook. We had fun talking basketball, and his always positive attitude will always stay in my mind. We wish you the very best in the future and hope we can meet you every so often.
Kishore and Sheila.
March 22, 2010
Dear Dixie, Ashley and Mike,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. We'll all miss Chill, but none will misss him so much as you. May your memories bring you comfort. Our deepest sympathy is with all of you.
Bob & Ella Ballagh
Rosemary Mackall
March 22, 2010
Dear Dixie, My deepest sympathy to you ,Ashley and Mike. Words can not express the sadness I feel for all of you at this time.Dixie,I will always remember Chill's "larger than life smile" every time the two of you were together.You were his "rock".You are all in my thoughts and prayers. love, Rosie
Eldon & Ruth McWilliams
March 22, 2010
Dick was my cousin and inspiration. My memories are of times spent at our grandparents cabin in the Pennsylvania wood. The trip to his graduation from West Point inspired me and became the focal point of my military career that followed. Our hearts and condolences go out to his family, my Aunt Edna and cousin Joanne.
March 22, 2010
dear, dear dixie, ray and i are sadden beyond words. the world has lost a good man and i hope that thought will give you and the family some comfort as you move through the haze of the days to come. ray thought of chill not only as a good friend but also as a great mentor. our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with you and the family.
ray & ruby lynch
austin, tx
Robert Soady
March 21, 2010
Our sincere condolences to Dixie, Ashley, and Mike, and of course, to my cousins Edna and Joanne who lost a son and brother respectively far too young in life. Dick and I played together from time to time as young boys in Pennsylvania but I only met him once as an adult on the occasion of his retirement from the Army at the National War University ten years ago. He gave much to our Country and is a real credit to his family, especially, to the two most important women in his life, mother Edna, a resourceful lady of 99 years plus, and wife Dixie of many years. Dick will certainly be missed. Rest in peace General!
Todd McWilliams
March 20, 2010
Dick was my cousin as well as a mentor and a friend. Memories include he letting his 16 year old cousin (me then) drive his 1964 Chevrolet Impala SS in 1966 and my drawing him a "Top Banana" desktop momento back in the '70's. I will treasure so many other personal memories of him. May God bless his family and friends.
Love Todd
March 20, 2010
"Dick" Chilcoat was so much more than all that has been written about him and so much more than what he has contributed over his lifetime to the Military and the Bush School! We knew him as a loving and extremely caring Husband, Father, Son and Brother. He will be missed more than words can say.
His Loving Sister and Mother.
Joanne and Edna
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