1953–54 Volume 78 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

Keep An Eye on Vandiver of Georgia
By ROSCOE LOWERY, Mercer '44
AT the age of 35, Ernest Vandiver, Jr.,
Georgia '42, is one of our most outstanding
Phis.
On Nov. 17, 1948, Brother Vandiver was
appointed Adjutant General of the State
of Georgia, being then and still the youngest
Adjutant General in the Nation. Since
that date the record reflects his many outstanding
achievements to which all Phis
and Georgians alike point with pride.
Appointed State Director of the Selective
Service System for Georgia by President
Truman on Dec. 1, 1948, he has since served
to date in that capacity. In April, 1952,
General Vandiver was federally recognized
as a major general in the Air National
Guard, the youngest person ever so recognized.
Under his leadership the 54th Fighter
Wing of the Georgia Air National Guard
was rated most proficient in the entire Nation,
and was the first wing to be called to
active duty during the Korean emergency.
After seeing combat duty in Korea, this
wing was returned to State control and has
completed reorganization under General
Vandiver's leadership and direction and is
now considered one of the Nation's finest.
Also called to active duty during the
Korean emergency were anti-aircraft units
of the Georgia National Guard. These units
served with distinction lending credit to the
excellent state of preparation maintained
under the able supervision of the State
Adjutant General. Since Vandiver's appointment
as Adjutant General, more National
Guard armory and facility construction
has been accomplished than during
any previous twenty-year period. In addition
to his State National Guard activities,
he is an active member of the power Legislative
Committee of the National Guard
Association of the United States and is one
of seven members elected to the Executive
Council of the Adjutant General Association
of the United States.
Under the Georgia Civil Defense Act of
[385]
ERNEST VANDIVER, JR., Georgia '42
A leader since his days in Georgia Alpha.
Note Phi Delt ring.
1951, General Vandiver was named the
State's first Director of Civil Defense. Under
his leadership and direction, 181 municipal
directors have been appointed and trained
and the State Civil Defense Program so correlated
as to be recognized by Federal Civil
Defense Administration officials as outstanding.
Vandiver's defense program has
received special citation for the superior
Air Raid Warning Net System in operation
and manned mostly by volunteers. During
1952 Brother Vandiver served as Eastern
Vice-President of the National and Territorial
Association of the State Civil Defense
Directors, and in recognition for his outstanding
work in civil defense matters,
he was, on Oct. 2, 1953, elected president
of that association.
General Vandiver's leadership abilities
were in evidence during his undergraduate
days at the University of Georgia. He served
two terms as chapter president of Georgia
(Continued on page jpp)