In my opinion that has to be Maj. Gerald Wilson.

Had him for English four of my six years at RMA and he was  a great influence. Im sure there are many stories about the "Goomba" floating around and it would be great to see some here. I forget what year but the "Goomba' thing was new. As I recall it was started by some incident in summer school where he was good enough to overlook some infraction of a serious nature. The person involved tagged him.

Of course, the next year it was all over school. One day in class I was sort of doodling a characture of him on the back of my text. He had, apparetnly,  noticed this and waited til it was completed and as class was about to be dismissed he wandered over and asked if I would stop by his desk on the way out. Craps! I was about to get thumped on the head with his class ring! But no. He asked me for a larger copy suitable for framing!! Yessir, no problem!

One was produced and delivered. He did, indeed, frame it and hung it in his quarters. I was there for a reunion some years back and saw it hung in a little museum off the entry hall off the main building.

What I found most generous of him was his habit of lending books from his large collection. The stipulation was you had to discuss the book when it was returned. Loved that. That and his ability to get teenaged boys to like poetry and Shakespeare. Marvelous guy to whom I owe a great deal.

Best, Mike Spaulding

I also had Goomba and thought he was excellent. Another Faculty member that I learned a lot from and liked the was he taught was Major Oldham. Unfortrunately he had diabetes and died while we were at RMA.

re: Maj Oldham...I remember the day he died. In Florida ...Never had him as an instructor but he was very well respected by many. Always had a bottle of coke with him as I recall.