In His Own Words: Frank Uhlig Jr.
I became aware of the Naval Institute in 1941, and early in 1942 I became a member. My first published contribution was a comment in the April 1947 Proceedings. Occasionally I have contributed again to the long-running and varied discussion on both the Navy’s future and its past, sometimes in book form, more often in Proceedings, most recently in June 2001.
For more than 20 years, beginning in 1960, I was an editor at the Naval Institute. During that time I was able to contribute in ways not often open to others. For example, in the company of art director David Scott and photo librarian Patty Maddocks, I aided in organizing and expanding the Institute’s irreplaceable photo collection. Most important, I think, I helped to bring to the Institute both Paul Stillwell, now director of History, and Fred Rainbow, director of Periodicals and Seminars and the Institute’s chief operating officer.
The Naval Institute is one of the great inventions of the Navy it serves. Other services have sought to emulate it, but I think not often with success. Despite its success, the Institute has experienced difficulties from time to time, sometimes caused by financial or technological misjudgments, other times by a high-ranking person who would have it serve his immediate interests at the expense of the long-term interests of the service at large. So far, the Institute has survived all such misjudgments and assaults without suffering fatal injury.
Now, after an unexpected hard moment, under the leadership of Tom Wilkerson and Fred Rainbow the Naval Institute appears to be moving ahead once again. The Navy, the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard, and the other services all will benefit from this, as will our country.
I was glad to respond to Naval Institute Foundation chairman Stan Arthur’s recent cogent appeal for members to provide support to the Institute. I am a frequent contributor and plan to continue this. I am grateful to Admiral Arthur for his leadership of the Foundation that so ably strengthens the Institute. Hardly anyone could do anything more useful than that.
Admiral William Crowe Honored
The U.S. Naval Institute is pleased to announce the establishment of the Admiral William J. Crowe Jr., USN (Ret.), History and Diplomacy Fund. An admirer who wishes to remain anonymous made a substantial unrestricted gift to launch this endowment. Others who wish to recognize the admiral now have the opportunity to make a tax-deductible gift to the Crowe Fund in his honor.
Named funds can be established by individuals or corporations to recognize family members, service to country, or devotion to the sea services. For more information, or to contribute to the Crowe Fund, contact Kirk McAlexander, executive director of the Naval Institute Foundation, at 291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402. He also can be reached at (410) 295-1056 or at [email protected].
Foundation News Archives
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004