The West Point Association of Graduates has named the 2017 recipients of the Distinguished Graduate Award. Celebrating its 25th year, this annual award is bestowed upon those West Point graduates whose character, distinguished service and stature draw wholesome comparison to the qualities for which West Point strives, in keeping with its motto: “Duty, Honor, Country.” 

The awards will be presented in a ceremony at West Point on May 23, 2017. The 2017 Distinguished Graduate Award recipients include Thomasville native and West Point class of 1975 member Lloyd Austin III.

Ask those who served with Gen. (ret.) Austin, and they are all likely to echo the words of Gen. Mark Milley, the 39th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army: “Lloyd Austin is a great officer and leader, but more importantly, he is a first-class person of humility and character.” 

In his 41-year military career, Austin went from a rifle platoon leader in the 7th Infantry to the 33rd Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army and commander of U.S. Central Command, overseeing the 20-country Central Region and the military campaign to defeat the terrorist organization, ISIL in Iraq and Syria.

He holds the unique distinction of having commanded in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan at the one-, two-, three- and four-star levels, and was the first African-American to command a division, corps, and field army in combat. He is the recipient of the Silver Star and five Defense Distinguished Service Medals. 

“Command, combat, and success are the hallmarks of his sterling career,” said Adm. (ret.) Michael Mullen, the 17th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, regarding Austin. 

Called a warrior and a “soldier’s soldier” by many, Austin is also the pride of his hometown, receiving the Pinnacle Award, Thomasville County Chamber of Commerce’s highest award, and being inducted into the county’s Sports Hall of Fame as a renowned scholar-athlete. 

Other distinguished graduate award recipients this year, with their graduating class in parentheses, are: Marshall Carter (1962) who earned two Purple Hearts in Vietnam and was later chairman of the New York Stock Exchange; Daniel Kaufman (1968), a Vietnam veteran who was later dean of the West Point academic board; Martin Dempsey (1974). who was chief of staff of the Army and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Robert A. McDonald (1975), who was president and chairman of the board of Proctor and Gamble and later secretary of Veterans Affairs; and Ray Odierno (1976), whose 4th Infantry Division troops captured Saddam Hussein and who also was later chief of staff of the Army.