Posted by Richard Maddox Combs II on September 29, 2008:

I am the third child of John William Combs born in 1949. In order to appreciate the historical chronology of my Fathers life one must understand his Fathers life. My Grandfather, William H. Combs, born in 1898, was the Son of a Lumberman with two mills in Oregon and two mills in Haines, Alaska. My Granfather was the oldest of 9 Sons born of the marriage with my Great Grandmother Mary Alberte Worland. My Grandfather was primarily raised in Alaska. At the age of 18, he joined the US Army Calvalry and was posted in san Francisco. There he met my Grandmther, Anthonette Maddox and was married shortly thereafter. My Granfather's first work after his military service was as a Teller at the Bank of Italy on Stockton Street in San Francisco. San Francisco was then under reconstruction from the great fire of previous years, and a construction boom was underway. As the Bank grew, my Grandfather became one of Mr Gianini's top executives, reaching a position second only to the Chairman. Mr, Beldon. My Father was born in 1920, the eldest of 8 children. In 1925 or 1926, Mr Gianini, founder of the Bank of Italy, purchsed a small Bank in North Carolina by the name of Bank of America. Gianini had great plans to expand the Bank of America name and franchise, so he decided to open a large Branch across from the New York Stock Exchange in New York City on Wall Street. My Grandfather and Mr. Beldon, moved to New York with their respective families to manage the affairs of the Bank. In the Stock Market Crash of 1929, my Grandfather and Mr, Beldon, the previous Chairman of Bank of America, purchased 5 seats on the New York Stock Exchange named Beldon Combs Securities Corporation. The company flourished. Mr Beldon died shortly thereafter and the firm then became known as William H. Combs & Associates located a # 1 Wall Street. Until 1944, the firm grew and prospered. major clientele of the firm were US Military Officers. Some of my Grandfathers close friends were General Douglas McCarthur and General George Patton who he had played Polo against in earlier years. From 1938 to 1940, my Father and his two younger Brothers were admitted to West Point Military Academy, the only three Brothers to attend West Point in the history of the Academy. My Granfather, at the request of General McCarthur took an Army commission as a Colonel in charge of two batallions with the Commando Group located in Burma under General Merril and Stilwell. My Granfather was killed in an ambush by the Japanese during the battle to take the matchika airport during his second year in the jungle. He was awarded two Distinguished Service Crosses for heroism in Battle. He is buried in Arlington Cemetary as well as my Grandmother. My Father upon graduation from West Point was trained in the Army Air Corps to fly the new P-51 Mustang Fighter plane, stationed in Iwo Jima to assist with the Nuclear Bomb project. My Uncle Richard Maddox Combs I, was an Army Lieutenant, assigned to Pampua New Guinea under General Douglas McCarther. My Uncle was killed in a battle against a Japanese Machine Gun Installation. Richard M. Combs was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star for heroism in battle. My other, Uncle William H. Combs, Jr., took a commission as an Officer in the US Navy and survived the war, later to marry Edmee Schaefer. After the war, my Father who was married to Eileen Seney from New Rochelle, New York, started our family, consisting of my older Brother Jack and my Sisters Noel and Erin. My Father was originally hired by Union News Corporation in New York City as a Vice President. Later we moved to Chicago where I was born. Shortly therafter we moved back to New York and lived by the Long Island Sound and Westchester Country Club in Rye New York. In 1954, my Father was offered a great business opportunity to move to Canada and manage a large Land Development Company. He held the position as President for 10 years, after which he formed his own Shopping Center Development and Land Planning Company known as John W. Combs Limited. Later he expanded to London, England and Australia, During his career, he conceived and developed 56 Major Shopping Centers. Later in his life he became President of the Canadian Arbitration Association as a judge in matters of Land Development disputes. My Father passed away in 1998. He worked full time until he was 78 years old. When I look back on my Father's Life and that of my Garndfather and Uncles, I am reminded of the three keystones taught at West Point " Duty, Honor, Country" My Father and his brthers and Father all exemplied lives of honor, loyalty and integrity. They were great leaders and compassionate men. Life goes by in the blink of an eye, but I think these great men need to be remembered for future generations as examples of how to live an exemplary life, leaving a feeling of pride and high expectations for great accomplishment for my children and future generations.

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