Spirit of Fort Benning Award, 1988

File — Box: 1, Folder: 17

Scope and Contents

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This material details the personal and professional activities of Oscar L. Betts, Jr. and, to a lesser extent, Oscar L. Betts, III (known as Buster), as well as R. H. Taliaferro, the father of Buster's wife, Sue Malone Taliaferro. These papers are arranged in three two series: Series 1 – The Betts Family; Series 2 – The Taliaferro Family and Series 3 – The Crawford Family. Within each series items are generally arranged chronologically, with Betts, Jr. and Betts III materials filed together. Within the Betts series there are three sub-divisions: Association of the United States Army (AUSA); Rotary Club; Spirit of Fort Benning Award.

Among the Betts' areas of interest are such subjects as the Ralston Hotel, the Columbus Airport (also known as the Muscogee County Airport and the Municipal Airport), the Highway 27 Association, Fort Benning, World War II, the Rotary Club, the AUSA (Association of the U.S. Army), the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, The Jordan Company, Tom's Foods, etc.

Among the Taliaferros' areas of interest are Jordan Vocational High School, Taliaferro's retirement in 1967, his fundraising for Brookstone (Trinity) School, other Columbus civic organizations and the genealogies of the Crawford family of R. H Taliaferro's wife, Harriet Crawford.

The scrapbooks kept by both Oscar Betts, Jr. and R. H. Taliaferro are in very poor physical condition.

Dates

Other: 1988

Extent

From the Collection: 2 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

General

According to an article by Paul Timm in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer of April 23, 1988 this award was established in 1985 by then Major General John Foss and is to given "only when a person has been nominated who is so singularly meritorious as to clearly warrant the making the award." The award is bestowed for the nominee's "exemplary activities and accomplishments to civilian-military relationships, concern for a viable Army and the Infantry's role in national defense." Letter to Frances and Oscar Betts from "Milly P." [Millie Pearson, secretary at the Williams Construction Company of Columbus], January 28, 1988 The date of this letter, from Millie Pearson, secretary at the Williams Construction Company, may be incorrect and perhaps should be "June 28, 1988" instead. Letter to Betts from Maj. Gen. K.C. Leuer, February 12, 1988 Letter to Maj. Gen. K.C. Leuer from Betts, February 18. 1988 Letter to Betts from Lt. Col. Robert E. Pilnacek, Public Affairs Officer concerning Betts nomination to receive the Spirit of Fort Benning Award, March 1, 1988 Letter to Maynard Ashworth from Maj. Gen. K.C. Leuer, March 8, 1988 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer article, "Betts will get Spirit of Fort Benning Award", April 23, 1988 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, "Accolades", April 23 (?), 1988 Congratulations to Betts from "Trudy" (Mrs. Thomas M. Tarpley), April 24, 1988 Congratulations to Betts from Wanda Pearce, April 25, 1988 Congratulations to Betts from Sonny Duncan, April 25, 1988 Congratulations to Betts from Joseph Flowers Jr., April 25, 1988 Congratulations to Betts from Mary Mitchell Lindsay, April 26, 1988 Formal invitation to reception and dinner honoring Betts, April 27, 1988 Fourth Annual Spirit of Fort Benning Award Banquet program (2 copies), April 27, 1988 Newspaper clipping, "Post paying Betts back for service", Aril 27, 1988 Congratulations to Betts from Lee Redmond Jr., April 27, 1988 Congratulations to Betts from Dick Olson of Tom's Foods, April 27 (?), 1988 Congratulations to Betts from Robert Hahn (Bob), April 27, 1988 Postcard to The Oscar Betts' from "Mae and Jim" [Colonel and Mrs. McConaughy], April 27, 1988 Congratulations to Betts from George Murphy, April 28, 1988 Congratulations to Betts from Jack Passailaigue, April 28, 1988 Congratulations to Betts from Frances Blackmar, April 28 (?), 1988 Congratulations to Betts from Wanda Pearce, April 28, 1988 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer photo, "Spirit of Fort Benning", April 28, 1988 Congratulations to Betts from Tom Starlin, April 29, 1988 Congratulations to Betts from Howard and Frances Mott, April 29, 1988 The Bayonet, "Local Businessman gets Spirit Award", article and photo, April 29, 1988 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer article, "Civilian Aid Makes Rare Local Appearance", April 30, 1988 Card to Betts from Roy and Thelma Smith, April 30, 1988 Card to Betts from Wayne and Dannie (CB&T), April 30 (?), 1988 Congratulations to Betts from Earlene Saunders, April 30 (?), 1988 Congratulations to Betts from Dee [Rainey], April 30, 1988 Congratulations to Frances and Oscar Betts from Bernard W. Abrams, May 2, 1988 Congratulations to Betts from "Sylvia", May 4, 1988 Letter to Lt. Col. Robert E. Pilnacek from Betts, thanking him for his part the awards activities, May 4, 1988 Letter to Maj. Gen. and Mrs. Kenneth C. Leuer from Betts thanking them for their part in the awards activities, May 4, 1988 Congratulations to Betts from Congressman Richard Ray, May 9, 1988 Spirit of Fort Benning – Photo Album