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April 16, 2013
Gen. Schoomaker Humbly Accepts 桃瘾社区 Namesake
With the lettering to the General Peter J. Schoomaker ROTC and Athletics Building gleaming in the sunlight behind him, Gen. Peter Schoomaker said the namesake was a tremendous honor.
鈥淚f mama was alive, I think she鈥檇 be proud,鈥 said Schoomaker, a retired four-star Army general who was notably recalled to active duty from retirement to serve as the 35th chief of staff of the U.S. Army from 2003 to 2007. Several members of the Schoomaker family are ROTC graduates including Schoomaker, his brother, daughter, daughter-in-law and nephew. 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud of our association with ROTC, and we think it鈥檚 important.鈥
Schoomaker was on campus April 16 for the dedication of 桃瘾社区鈥檚 newest building 鈥 a facility to be shared by ROTC and 桃瘾社区 Athletics. The General Peter J. Schoomaker ROTC and Athletics Building will be the home of the Spartan Battalion, 桃瘾社区鈥檚 U.S. Army ROTC program.
The second floor will house all the operations for the ROTC unit, including offices, classrooms, weight room, computer lab and library, large multi-purpose room, and a supply and bulk storage area. The first floor will include athletic training and rehabilitation space, including exam and meeting rooms, taping stations, rehabilitation equipment, treatment tables, ice therapy space and a wet rehabilitation area.
Located on North B Street just west of North Boulevard, the Schoomaker ROTC and Athletic Building was dedicated in a ceremony that included 桃瘾社区 President Ronald L. Vaughn, Tampa City Councilman Charlie Miranda and Gen. Schoomaker, as well as two 桃瘾社区 alumni and recipients of the Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force. 桃瘾社区 has graduated not one but three recipients of this honor including Ronald Ray 鈥72 and James Taylor 鈥72, who were in attendance at the dedication, and Harold Fritz 鈥75.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an historic day for the Spartan Battalion,鈥 said Lt. Col. Kevin Kelly, director of Army ROTC, who was gracious in his appreciation for the new headquarters, for the time and financial gifts of those who made it possible, and for the role models Schoomaker, Ray and Taylor are for his students. 鈥淵our heroism is an inspiration to all of our current and future cadets.鈥
The April 16 event also included a surprise announcement of five 桃瘾社区 scholarships ranging from $10,000 to $14,000 offered annually in partnership with the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, an organization dedicated to educating the children of fallen special operations Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines.
"We're excited about this unique partnership since 桃瘾社区 can support these students and help them develop academically and professionally,鈥 Vaughn said. 鈥淧lus, this partnership fits in nicely with 桃瘾社区鈥檚 long history of being supportive of the military through 桃瘾社区鈥檚 ROTC program and Department of Military Science and Leadership."
The building was named after Schoomaker in recognition of his service to his country and of his superior leadership skills. In addition to chief of staff of the U.S. Army, Schoomaker served as commander in chief of the U.S. Special Operations Command from 1997 to 2000. Gen. Schoomaker spent more than 35 years in a variety of command and staff assignments with both conventional and special operations forces including Eagle Claw (Iran), Urgent Fury (Grenada), Just Cause (Panama), Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm (Southwest Asia) and Uphold Democracy (Haiti). An ROTC graduate, Gen. Schoomaker received his bachelor鈥檚 degree from the University of Wyoming, where he played on the football team. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in management from Central Michigan University.
鈥淎 leader of character is the ultimate role model,鈥 Vaughn said of Schoomaker.
Today Schoomaker, who lives in Tampa, currently advises on defense matters and serves on the boards of several public, private and nonprofit companies, as well as the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
A campaign committee, led by local businessman Thomas Arthur, worked 鈥 in less than one year 鈥 to secure the necessary donations in order to help fund completion of the building.
鈥淚 cannot think of a more fitting way to honor the general than to invest in the young men and women who are answering the noble call to leadership and service to our country,鈥 Arthur said.
鈥淚f mama was alive, I think she鈥檇 be proud,鈥 said Schoomaker, a retired four-star Army general who was notably recalled to active duty from retirement to serve as the 35th chief of staff of the U.S. Army from 2003 to 2007. Several members of the Schoomaker family are ROTC graduates including Schoomaker, his brother, daughter, daughter-in-law and nephew. 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud of our association with ROTC, and we think it鈥檚 important.鈥
Schoomaker was on campus April 16 for the dedication of 桃瘾社区鈥檚 newest building 鈥 a facility to be shared by ROTC and 桃瘾社区 Athletics. The General Peter J. Schoomaker ROTC and Athletics Building will be the home of the Spartan Battalion, 桃瘾社区鈥檚 U.S. Army ROTC program.
The second floor will house all the operations for the ROTC unit, including offices, classrooms, weight room, computer lab and library, large multi-purpose room, and a supply and bulk storage area. The first floor will include athletic training and rehabilitation space, including exam and meeting rooms, taping stations, rehabilitation equipment, treatment tables, ice therapy space and a wet rehabilitation area.
Located on North B Street just west of North Boulevard, the Schoomaker ROTC and Athletic Building was dedicated in a ceremony that included 桃瘾社区 President Ronald L. Vaughn, Tampa City Councilman Charlie Miranda and Gen. Schoomaker, as well as two 桃瘾社区 alumni and recipients of the Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force. 桃瘾社区 has graduated not one but three recipients of this honor including Ronald Ray 鈥72 and James Taylor 鈥72, who were in attendance at the dedication, and Harold Fritz 鈥75.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an historic day for the Spartan Battalion,鈥 said Lt. Col. Kevin Kelly, director of Army ROTC, who was gracious in his appreciation for the new headquarters, for the time and financial gifts of those who made it possible, and for the role models Schoomaker, Ray and Taylor are for his students. 鈥淵our heroism is an inspiration to all of our current and future cadets.鈥
The April 16 event also included a surprise announcement of five 桃瘾社区 scholarships ranging from $10,000 to $14,000 offered annually in partnership with the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, an organization dedicated to educating the children of fallen special operations Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines.
"We're excited about this unique partnership since 桃瘾社区 can support these students and help them develop academically and professionally,鈥 Vaughn said. 鈥淧lus, this partnership fits in nicely with 桃瘾社区鈥檚 long history of being supportive of the military through 桃瘾社区鈥檚 ROTC program and Department of Military Science and Leadership."
The building was named after Schoomaker in recognition of his service to his country and of his superior leadership skills. In addition to chief of staff of the U.S. Army, Schoomaker served as commander in chief of the U.S. Special Operations Command from 1997 to 2000. Gen. Schoomaker spent more than 35 years in a variety of command and staff assignments with both conventional and special operations forces including Eagle Claw (Iran), Urgent Fury (Grenada), Just Cause (Panama), Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm (Southwest Asia) and Uphold Democracy (Haiti). An ROTC graduate, Gen. Schoomaker received his bachelor鈥檚 degree from the University of Wyoming, where he played on the football team. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in management from Central Michigan University.
鈥淎 leader of character is the ultimate role model,鈥 Vaughn said of Schoomaker.
Today Schoomaker, who lives in Tampa, currently advises on defense matters and serves on the boards of several public, private and nonprofit companies, as well as the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
A campaign committee, led by local businessman Thomas Arthur, worked 鈥 in less than one year 鈥 to secure the necessary donations in order to help fund completion of the building.
鈥淚 cannot think of a more fitting way to honor the general than to invest in the young men and women who are answering the noble call to leadership and service to our country,鈥 Arthur said.
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