Posted by Pat Devens, USMA '75 (son) on June 1, 2008:

Lieutenant Colonel William George “Bud” Devens, 1926-2008. Lieutenant Colonel William George “Bud” Devens, 82, died peacefully on April 12, 2008. He was born into an Army family at Ft. Eustis, VA. on March 2, 1926, the son of Lieutenant Colonel and Mrs. William George Devens. He spent his early childhood on Corregidor Island, Philippines, and posts throughout the U.S. As a teenager, the Army assigned his father to duty at West Point, N.Y. There, Bud resolved to win an appointment to the United States Military Academy. While attending West Point, Bud emerged as a natural leader, playing hockey and becoming captain of the Army Lacrosse Team. He was named an “All-American” player for two consecutive years. Upon his graduation as a second lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers, he was ordered to the Philippines, Guam, and Japan where be built numerous airstrips and facilities. A lifetime romance of fifty-nine years began when he courted and married Mary Tansey in Tokyo, Japan. Out of their love came eight children, as they moved from post to post. After returning stateside, Bud earned a MS degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois. He then trained soldiers at Ft. Belvoir, Va. and Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. In 1953, he was ordered to the frontline in Korea as a Combat Engineer Company Commander. Known as a capable and caring commander, one story endures of him crawling into and rescuing two Korean youths from an unmarked minefield. After the war, his wife and three children boarded a troop ship to join him in Okinawa, Japan. Later the Army selected him to teach cadets at West Point, where he became officer-in-charge of the Army Lacrosse Team and obtained his Professional Engineering License. He then attended the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, KS. Graduating first in his class, Bud earned the prestigious “George C. Marshall” medal. He was then ordered to the Supreme Allied Headquarters Europe in Paris, France. Two years later, he became the Berlin Engineer in Soviet-surrounded, Allied-occupied Berlin. This perilous tour became the highlight of his distinguished Army career, where he managed operations in a setting of high intrigue. He returned to Washington, D.C. to serve on the board overseeing future plans for the Panama Canal, and later assumed command of the Engineer Officer Candidate School. Upon his Army retirement in 1966 as a Lieutenant Colonel, Bud decided to continue his love of teaching young people. He served as Deputy Commandant of Cadets at Norwich University, Vermont, until Virginia Tech (VT) hired him as the Director of Engineering Fundamentals. Bud also served on the VT Athletic Board for six years, was elected to the Faculty Senate, and received many awards. Under his guidance, the VT community knew Engineering Fundamentals as a “family” where close-knit relationships and mutual respect were valued. He retired in 1988 as a full professor. For sixteen years, Blacksburg knew Bud as the “The Voice of Blacksburg High School” where he announced all Varsity and J.V. football and basketball games. He served as president of the Athletic Boosters Club and took great pride in designing a new football stadium. He personally supervised the field grading and construction of seats, press box, and lighting system. An accomplished golfer, Bud won the club championship at Blacksburg Country Club where he also served as President. As an active member of St. Mary’s Church, Bud held positions on the parish council and finance committees, and served as a communion minister. The pride and loves of his life were his wife Mary, and their eight children, spouses and families: Donnie and Bill Devens, Patty and Pat Devens, Mary Jo and Reaumur Donnally, Elissa and Bob Devens, Diane and John Harvey, Sheri and Tim Devens, Barbara and Ted Devens, Karen and Jamie Devens, nineteen grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. His family, many friends and colleagues admire, respect, and love him. He lived his motto “Duty, Honor, Country” in every aspect of his life and always took care of those serving with him. In the words of fellow West-Pointers: “Well done.” Bud is survived by his sister and husband Mary Ellen and Mac McClosky, his brother and wife John and Carol Devens, by Mary’s brothers Bob and Joanne Tansey, Mike and Stannye Tansey, and their extended families. He was preceeded in death by his grandson Derek Devens and great-grandson James Donnally. A celebration of Bud’s life was held at a Mass of the Resurrection on April 19, 2008, at St. Mary’s Church, in Blacksburg, VA. After a multitude of eulogies and tributes, an honor guard from Fort Lee, Virginia presented Bud with his final military honors. “Be thou at Peace.”

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