Alvin Duke Chandler
The First Captain of the
USS Des Moines CA134
11/16/1948 - 11/1949
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In Office 1951-1960
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Obituary - Taken from the Find A Grave Web Site
Other information from other web sites as follows:
Alvin Duke Chandler.
(August 18, 1902 – May 26, 1987)[4] was the twenty-first president of the College of William & Mary, serving from 1951 to 1960.[5] He also served as the chancellor of The Colleges of William & Mary from 1960 to 1962; after that system was disbanded, he served as Chancellor of the College from 1962 to 1974.[6] Prior to his career at the College of William & Mary, Chandler served in the United States Navy, eventually reaching the rank of Vice-Admiral. His father, Julian Alvin Carroll Chandler, also served as president of the College of William & Mary. His personal papers[7] as well as the papers from his time as president[8]can be found in the Special Collections Research Center at the College of William & Mary
Naval officer (1923–1951)A native of Richmond, Virginia, Chandler attended William and Mary in 1918-1919, but shortly left for the Naval Academy. He graduated in 1923 and spent the next 28 years in active service. In the 1930s, he alternated between postings at sea and teaching at the Naval Academy, authoring several textbooks. Commander Chandler was a student at the Naval War College about 1936-1938.
During World War II, he served in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and as a staff member of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet in the South Pacific. Chandler was a commander of five destroyer groups and participated in campaigns in Africa, Guadalcanal, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. During the Guadalcanal Campaign Cdr Chandler commanded Destroyer Division 41 in the Battle of Rennell Island. USS Chevalier (DD-451), USS Edwards (DD-619), USS Meade (DD-602), and USS Taylor (DD-468) made up his force.[
He earned a number of honors for his naval service, including the Legion of Merit Gold Star. After the war, Chandler assumed command of the heavy cruiser U.S.S. Des Moines in 1948 as it’s first Captain from 11/16/1948 until 11/1949. He attended the Imperial Defense College in London, England in 1950, and returned to the office of Chief of Naval Operations as Director of the Logistics Plans Division. He retired from the Navy as a Vice-Admiral in November 1951 to assume the presidency at William and Mary.
Educator (1951–1974)The Board of Visitors appointed Admiral Chandler president of the College of William & Mary in haste, and outraged the faculty by failing to consult them. His predecessor had been forced out of office following a scandal over changing grades for football players on the college team. After taking office, he instituted uniform admission standards for all students. During his tenure, he oversaw the expansion of the faculty, curriculum changes, and the construction of five new buildings. He left office to become chancellor of theColleges of William & Mary (1960–1962), until the General Assembly of Virginia made those five public colleges independent. Then he was chancellor of the college (1962–1974).
Alvin Duke Chandler.
(August 18, 1902 – May 26, 1987)[4] was the twenty-first president of the College of William & Mary, serving from 1951 to 1960.[5] He also served as the chancellor of The Colleges of William & Mary from 1960 to 1962; after that system was disbanded, he served as Chancellor of the College from 1962 to 1974.[6] Prior to his career at the College of William & Mary, Chandler served in the United States Navy, eventually reaching the rank of Vice-Admiral. His father, Julian Alvin Carroll Chandler, also served as president of the College of William & Mary. His personal papers[7] as well as the papers from his time as president[8]can be found in the Special Collections Research Center at the College of William & Mary
Naval officer (1923–1951)A native of Richmond, Virginia, Chandler attended William and Mary in 1918-1919, but shortly left for the Naval Academy. He graduated in 1923 and spent the next 28 years in active service. In the 1930s, he alternated between postings at sea and teaching at the Naval Academy, authoring several textbooks. Commander Chandler was a student at the Naval War College about 1936-1938.
During World War II, he served in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and as a staff member of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet in the South Pacific. Chandler was a commander of five destroyer groups and participated in campaigns in Africa, Guadalcanal, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. During the Guadalcanal Campaign Cdr Chandler commanded Destroyer Division 41 in the Battle of Rennell Island. USS Chevalier (DD-451), USS Edwards (DD-619), USS Meade (DD-602), and USS Taylor (DD-468) made up his force.[
He earned a number of honors for his naval service, including the Legion of Merit Gold Star. After the war, Chandler assumed command of the heavy cruiser U.S.S. Des Moines in 1948 as it’s first Captain from 11/16/1948 until 11/1949. He attended the Imperial Defense College in London, England in 1950, and returned to the office of Chief of Naval Operations as Director of the Logistics Plans Division. He retired from the Navy as a Vice-Admiral in November 1951 to assume the presidency at William and Mary.
Educator (1951–1974)The Board of Visitors appointed Admiral Chandler president of the College of William & Mary in haste, and outraged the faculty by failing to consult them. His predecessor had been forced out of office following a scandal over changing grades for football players on the college team. After taking office, he instituted uniform admission standards for all students. During his tenure, he oversaw the expansion of the faculty, curriculum changes, and the construction of five new buildings. He left office to become chancellor of theColleges of William & Mary (1960–1962), until the General Assembly of Virginia made those five public colleges independent. Then he was chancellor of the college (1962–1974).
