Pelham Wilder, former University Marshal and professor emeritus of chemistry, was honored by the National Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps at his home Friday, Nov. 18.
Professor Gordon Stewart of the University of Virginia, a former national NROTC president, presented a plaque honoring Wilder in acknowledgement and gratitude for his years of service to NROTC. The association voted to honor him with the plaque at its national convention this past October in Milwaukee.
Wilder served with the U.S. Navy during World War II and continued his work with NROTC after leaving the service. He took several leadership roles with the Association of NROTC Colleges and Universities and served three terms as the association's president from 1982-1988. He was Duke's representative to the association for more than 25 years.
It's not the first time the Navy has honored Wilder. In 1993 he received the Distinguished Public Service Award from the Secretary of the Navy for his efforts.
More than 30 people gathered at his home for the ceremony. Victor Strandberg, professor of English and Duke's current representative to the NROTC association, also spoke at the ceremony.
Wilder said he thought it was important that Duke take a leadership role in ROTC. "I've always felt that the officers of the military should be educated as well as trained," Wilder said. "We need them to be trained to defend the country, but they should also be ambassadors. We need people who are trained in liberal arts to serve in the military.
"I was very proud to receive the award. It's been a number of years since I took part with ROTC. After all these years, it's an honor to be remembered for what I tried to do."