Decorated General Remembered
by Tad Lichtenauer • October 2007 • 8 Comments •
Retired Gen. Russell E. Dougherty (1948), former commander in chief of the Strategic Air Command, died September 7, 2007, at his home in Potomac Falls, Virginia.
Truman Connection
Under the leadership of President Harry S. Truman (Missouri-Columbia HON), Continental Air Forces was re-designated Strategic Air Command on March 21, 1946, at the end of World War II.
SAC was the operational establishment of the U.S Air Force in charge of America’s bomber-based and ballistic missile-based strategic nuclear arsenal from 1946 to 1992.
Gen. George C. Kenny was named as SAC’s first commanding officer, and the headquarters, originally located at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, was moved to Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, in November 1948.
Air Force Secretary Stuart Symington chose to locate the U.S. Air Force’s crucial long-range atomic strike force at Offutt primarily because the base was centrally located on the North American continent, placing it well beyond the existing range of potentially hostile bombers or missiles.
In 1948, Gen. Curtis E. LeMay assumed command and built, from the remnants of World War II, an all-jet bomber force, manned and supported by professional airmen dedicated to the preservation of peace.
In 1992, following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, SAC was eliminated in a reorganization of the major U.S. Air Force commands.
A Kentucky native, he advanced from a 15-year-old bugler for the 123rd Cavalry of the Kentucky National Guard to the top tiers of leadership as a four-star general in the U.S. Air Force.
He was buried September 27, 2007, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Service to Country
He graduated from Western Kentucky University in 1941, then moved to Washington, D.C., to work for the FBI, leaving to serve as a pilot instructor and combat pilot in the Army Air Forces during World War II.
He was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force in 1947, and earned his law degree from the University of Louisville in 1948.
His early military assignments included pilot, judge advocate, trial attorney and squadron commander at joint military and international military posts, notably the U.S. European Command Headquarters in Paris, France, and Stuttgart, Germany, and the Far East Air Forces in Japan during the Korean War.
In the 1960s, his assignments encompassed working for the U.S. Air Force deputy director for war plans. He then became assistant director for plans at the National Security Council.
He became U.S. Air Force deputy chief of staff, plans and operations in February 1970, then was promoted to four-star general on May 1, 1972, and assigned to NATO’s Allied Command Europe headquarters as a chief of staff.
In 1974, he returned to the United States to become the eighth commander in chief of SAC. In this role, Dougherty oversaw America’s nuclear arsenal and deterrent force at the height of the Cold War. In July 1977, he retired from active duty.
In 1980, he took a post as executive director of the U.S. Air Force Association, an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes education about aerospace power and national defense.
He led the association until 1986, when he returned to law, joining the international firm McGuireWoods LLP. He retired from the firm in 1999.
Service to Fraternity
In addition to his many military achievements, Dougherty also made time to serve Lambda Chi Alpha and make our teachings an ongoing part of his life and philosophy.
He was a charter member and the first president of the Louisville chapter, a 1978 Order of Achievement recipient, and he served on the Educational Foundation board from 1985 to 1991, and was the Grand High Phi from 1980 to 1982.
In his Order of Achievement acceptance speech at the 37th General Assembly in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, Dougherty made several poignant comments that are remarkably still relevant to our struggles and challenges today.
The first was about the post-Vietnam era and the ongoing Cold War conflict.
“It’s easy to be dead and free,” he said. “It’s easy to be alive and enslaved. But the thing that we’re going to have to pull off, in the face of a threat unlike any we’ve experienced since World War II, is to see that we live free and able to achieve individually.”
The second comment was about the role Lambda Chi played in his development as a man and his appreciation of being recognized by the Fraternity.
“I’m so proud to be a man among you men, to be a man whom you have designated as one of your achievers,” he said. “I assure you, I couldn’t have done it solely with Lambda Chi Alpha, but whatever it is I’ve done, I couldn’t have done it without Lambda Chi Alpha.”
Dougherty is survived by his wife Barbara; son, Mark; and daughter, Diane (DeDe) Ralston. A son, Bryant, and first wife, Geralee Shaaber, preceded him in death.
Art Hebbeler Says:
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:44 pmI had the pleasure of knowing Brother Dougherty. I met him the first time a few years after he retired when he was with the Air Force Association and I was a Civil Air Patrol and Air Force ROTC cadet. We met as retired general-meets-cadet, but after identifying myself as a Lambda Chi, we parted as brothers.
Rest eternal, grant him, O Lord, and may light perpetual shine upon him.
Jeff Steele Says:
October 2nd, 2007 at 9:06 pmI was greatly saddend to learn of Russ’ passing. He was an inspiration to those who knew him. When he served on the Grand High Zeta, he was a great example to all of us for his ability to see immediately to the heart of a matter and quickly propose varied solutions. He was a warm and caring Brother who always managed to make everyone else feel included and valued no matter how trivial our contribution might be. I will miss him.
Mike Oghia Says:
October 3rd, 2007 at 12:08 amI’m the current High Rho at Zeta-Sigma and we were so saddened to hear about his death last month, not only because of his campus present (a building is named after him) but because he was one of our founding fathers and the more recent classes never got to talk to him! I really felt as if someone I knew well had died when I learned of his death. It really was a reminder of the longevity of our brotherhood, and it’s eternalness of what happens to one affects all. He was a great man, and I’m so happy that he was a Zeta-Sigma. Our chapter wants to collaborate with the Air Force ROTC and get a tree planted on campus in his memory as well. If anyone has any questions regarding him, please feel free to contact me at mjoghi01@louisville.edu
Forever in ZAX,
Mike Oghia – High Rho
ZS 1002
U. of Louisville
Mike Oghia Says:
October 3rd, 2007 at 12:10 amBy the way, he was Zeta Sigma 0005
Mark Bauer Says:
October 6th, 2007 at 7:49 amOn behalf of all brothers, I and Bart Brannam, a Kansas State alumni brother, were privileged, though saddened, to attend brother Dougherty’s funeral and burial at Arlington. Chapter founder, Grand High Zeta, Foundation Board (Chair for two years), Order of Achievement – Russ was uniquely one of the great brothers of our first 100 years. Russ always urged that we should never allow anything to divide our brotherhood – “someone must lead” – he would say. And, once while talking about faith, but applicable to the stewardship of Lambda Chi Alpha by all brothers, I quote him as saying: “You can’t defeat a grateful man.” I am grateful for Russ’ life and fellowship, and Lambda Chi Alpha is stronger because of him.
Mark Bauer, President,
Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation
Sean Holley Says:
October 8th, 2007 at 12:16 pmI wish that I got to know Russell E. Dougherty, but I think that his dedication to both his fraternity and country lead to several great sucesses and achievements for himself and more importantly Lambda Chi Alpha and the United States of America. I am an active member of the University of Louisville Zeta Sigma Chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha and I am proud to see how he battled through the tough times as we have as a chapter and a fraternity and a country. If everybody connected to every chapter including actives, associates, and alumni can continue to strive no matter what the scenario, our brotherhood will be unmatched. This is the lesson that this great man taught us and our country.
Sean Holley
University of Louisville
ZS 994
Amber N. Helton Says:
October 26th, 2007 at 10:35 amI am the Fall 2007 Cadet Wing Commander for the Air Force ROTC Detachment 295 at the University of Louisville. For over twenty five years, our detachment has been held in Russell E. Dougherty Hall, a name that holds great honor and integrity to our nation. Gen. Dougherty will truly be missed by all the cadets here at AFROTC, and will be remembered always for his courageous skill and ability to withhold outstanding leadership; both as an Air Force Officer and as a civilian. The University of Louisville is proud to say we are honoring Gen. Dougherty’s legacy on a daily basis, and will be working with UofL’s Lambda Chi Alpha chapter to plant a tree (and a plaque) in his name on campus. Detachment 295 will also be dedicating a plaque to hang in our lobby in memory of a four star general that we all grew to know and appreciate. Gen. Dougherty is truly missed by all of his peers at the University of Louisville, but his dedication and motivation will live on forever. He leaves a legacy that shall never fade…
Amber N. Helton
Cadet Colonel
Cadet Wing Commander
Air Force ROTC
Detachment 295
University of Louisville
Amber N. Helton Says:
November 14th, 2007 at 2:36 pmJust a reminder:
If anyone would like to see General Dougherty’s lifetime awards and achievements, they are on display at Dougherty Hall at the University of Louisville. Feel free to stop in and take a tour around our halls. His name is displayed with great honor. General Dougherty donated his awards to the Air Force ROTC at UofL about 20 years ago, and we are proud to have them displayed around our detachment.
Respectfully,
Amber N. Helton
Cadet Colonel
Cadet Wing Commander
Air Force ROTC
Detachment 295
University of Louisville