|
“I was not going to get pinned outside of the borders of North Carolina,” Still told the small group of family, friends and fellow National Guardsmen
at the brief ceremony held in front of the Big Chair. “This is the right place to do this. It was worth a trip to come back.”
While Still has never actually lived in Thomasville, he visited the city often from 2000 through 2003, when he was commander of the Multiple Launcher Rocket System (MLRS) artillery unit in North Carolina, which the Thomasville National Guard is a part of. Hubert Leonard, who served as mayor of Thomasville from 1991-97 and 1999-2003, was the adjutant general who Still served under during his MLRS years.
“Doug called me and asked if I’d do the honors of pinning him, and I said
that I’d be honored myself,” Leonard said. “He became the MLRS commander when it was first fielded. This is a real plus for North Carolina. Not every fort receives the latest in artillery weapons. Doug did a fantastic job while he was here.”
Still, who operated out of Louisburg while at the helm of the state’s MLRS artillery unit and was transferred to the Pentagon afterwards, expressed a sincere fondness for Thomasville.
“There’s a long history in Thomasville with the North Carolina National Guard artillery,” he said. “Obviously, Gen. Leonard is from here. We discussed where would be a good place for me to come in North Carolina and get promoted, and he suggested the Big Chair.
“I couldn’t think of a better place to come to. I’ve marched in the parade here (the only Memorial Day parade held in North Carolina). There’s a long history of support for the Army in this town – and it’s an artillery town.
It means a lot to me to be promoted in an artillery town.”
ROTC also means a lot to Still. He went through N.C. State University on an ROTC scholarship. Although his degree was in accounting, his ROTC education had a bigger effect on his career than the number crunching courses in his major. Now the 43-year-old colonel is involved in ROTC again.
“My new duty station is going to be the United States Army Cadet Command, which produces second lieutenants for the Army,” Still said. “A lot of these lieutenants, we hope, won’t only be in the active Army, but also in the Army Reserve and National Guard.”
Still will move from Washington to Fort Monroe, Va., to begin his new post as assistant chief of staff for National Guard matters.
“I’ve been a traditional Guardsman, I’ve been active Army and I’ve been in
the active Guard and Reserve program,” Still said. “I’ve enjoyed all three,
but the active Guard and Reserve program is where I work now. My career has gone full circle. I started out in ROTC and I’m coming back to work for ROTC in what most likely is, if not my last, one of my last two assignments in the Guard.”
Just as ROTC opened the door to a college education and a career for Still, he believes this program represents similar opportunities for young people today.
“I’m a big believer that ROTC is a great developer of for young men and women for our Army,” he said. “Whether they want to come into the Army, the National Guard or the Reserves and whether they want to come in for five years or for a complete career, it’s a great benefit to them.
“There’s a lot of scholarship money out there for ROTC, and there are, I think, a lot of deserving kids who could quality for these scholarships. There’s a lot of scholarship money designated for students in North Carolina. The biggest thing we must do is make sure that the kids know that it’s available to them. I went to school on an ROTC scholarship and it made a difference in my life. I think it can make a difference in other people’s lives, too.”
Dick Still, Doug’s proud father pinned an eagle on his son’s right shoulder
as Leonard pinned one on his left.
“I’m just proud that Doug has a little of my blood running through him – and a lot of his mother’s,” Dick Still said.
Leonard, now a retired major general, also showed pride in Doug Still, who
had served under him.
“We expect Doug to come back here so that we can pin that star on him,” Leonard said,” He will make it to general.”
Staff Writer Kevin Reid can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 230, or reid@tvilletimes.com.