DALTON, Ga. — Henry Gaston describes his brother, retired Navy Rear Adm. Mack Gaston who passed away on Sunday, as a “fantastic individual.”

Mack Gaston, a native of Dalton who was living in Illinois, was 78.

Among other responsibilities, Mack Gaston was the first black commander of the Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, Illinois. The Admiral Mack Gaston Parkway, a section of the north bypass between Walnut Avenue (Highway 52) and Cleveland Highway, is named in his honor. The Mack Gaston Community Center is named in honor of Gaston’s uncle and namesake Mack Charles Gaston, who was a member of the city’s recreation committee.

Mack Charles Gaston never had children, so Rear Adm. Gaston’s father, John, named him in his brother’s honor, Minnie Marsh, a cousin, said.

Tommy Pinson, director of the community center, said the elder Gaston played a “major role” in getting the center incorporated into the Dalton Parks and Recreation Department in 1966.

Henry Gaston, who lives in Detroit, Michigan, said he last saw his brother three weeks ago in Illinois.

“We were always communicating with each other,” he said. “I talked to him last week and we texted almost every day.”

He said his brother, older by one year, liked to text more than talk.

Mack and Henry were born in Dalton to John and Mildred Felicia Gaston before they moved to Atlanta, where their younger brother Frederick was born.

Henry Gaston, the only surviving brother, said they returned to Dalton when Mack was in the seventh grade and attended the Emery Street School.

Curtis Rivers, a classmate of Mack Gaston, said their class started with 33 students, but only 11 graduated in 1958. Gaston was the valedictorian.

Rivers and Gaston went on to the Tuskegee Institute (now University) where they were roommates during their freshman year.

Rivers recalls teasing Gaston when he joined the ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) in college for the Navy.

“His brother Henry was a lifeguard, but Mack wasn’t known to be a swimmer,” Rivers said. “I said, ‘You can’t swim, why are you going in the Navy?'”

Henry Gaston also attended Tuskegee. When Rivers left for Albany State University after his freshman year, the brothers became roommates.

“I missed him when he left for college,” Henry Gaston said. “Mack and I were very close, a lot of people thought we were twins.”

“Mack was a fantastic brother, son, friend and roommate,” he said through tears. “He was everything a brother would want from another brother.”

Rivers said Mack Gaston was “firm, but had a sense of humor.”

“He was very successful and achieved a lot in his career,” Rivers said.

Gaston retired from the Navy in 1995 after almost 31 years of service.

A profile of Gaston in the Chicago Tribune at that time said, “Those who have worked with … Gaston characterize him quite simply and without hesitation: He’s one of the classiest men to ever wear a uniform — and he’s no pushover.”

“I have contributed a lot to the U.S. Navy and it has contributed a lot to me,” Gaston said, as quoted in the article.

According to the introduction for an oral history of Gaston for the Naval Historical Foundation, Gaston commanded two destroyers and the cruiser USS Josephus Daniels, and served as commander field command, Defense Nuclear Agency.

“And yet, by no means does this record of excellence fully capture the measure of this extraordinary and inspirational person …,” the author wrote.

The introduction notes Gaston received the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one Gold Star and the Navy Commendation Medal with one Gold Star and Bronze “V.” He was also authorized to wear the Navy Achievement Medal, Navy “E” Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star, Vietnam Service Medal with four Bronze Stars, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Rivers said he’s always been proud of Gaston and his achievements.

“He was one of the people who came from Dalton and went on to higher levels,” Rivers said.

Marsh said she and Gaston grew up on the same street.

“Mack was always smiling and encouraging others to finish school and achieve,” she said. “He was the one we looked up to in our family.”

Funeral information is pending. Gaston leaves behind a daughter, Sonja, and wife Nancy.