Wilson Rufus Caskey
Files
Dublin Core
Title
Wilson Rufus Caskey
Subject
Caskey, Wilson Rufus (1913-2004)
Massanutten Military Academy (Woodstock, Shenandoah County, Va)
Military academies - Virginia - Woodstock
Military education - Virginia - Woodstock
Cadets - Virginia - Woodstock
Description
Portrait of MMA Cadet Wilson R. Caskey wearing his school’s uniform, probably taken around the time he graduated from MMA. Caskey is best remembered for his decades-long involvement with the school and as being one of the founders of the MMA Alumni Association.
Caskey was born and grew up in Martinsburg, West Virginia. His parents were William Rufus (1874-1969) and Dora (Matthaie) (1879-1969) Caskey. His father owned and operated a successful bakery (Caskey’s Bakery) in Martinsburg until it was sold in 1952.
As a child, he attended football games with his parents at MMA. Later, he returned to Woodstock as a student and was a 1931 MMA graduate. He continued his education, graduating from West Virginia University in 1936. Later, he served in Maryland’s Army National Guard during WWII. He also operated Caskey Supply Company in Martinsburg for many years until he retired.
He married Naomi J. (Hagen) (1915-1999) Caskey and the couple had two daughters: Jennifer Lynette (1954-2015) and Naomi Caskey.
After his graduation from MMA, Caskey maintained contact with the school. He volunteered his time and energy to help start up the alumni association, later becoming its vice president. He was elected executive president of the MMA Alumni Association in 1975, a position he held for 22 years. In 1983, he was also elected to the Board of Trustees at MMA, representing alumni interests there. By 1989, the alumni association began paying him for his service. At the time of his death, he was the alumni director emeritus at MMA.
He was known as a tireless worker so it seems paradoxical, perhaps, that he died while vacationing at Jekyll Island, Georgia. He was 90 years old.
Caskey was born and grew up in Martinsburg, West Virginia. His parents were William Rufus (1874-1969) and Dora (Matthaie) (1879-1969) Caskey. His father owned and operated a successful bakery (Caskey’s Bakery) in Martinsburg until it was sold in 1952.
As a child, he attended football games with his parents at MMA. Later, he returned to Woodstock as a student and was a 1931 MMA graduate. He continued his education, graduating from West Virginia University in 1936. Later, he served in Maryland’s Army National Guard during WWII. He also operated Caskey Supply Company in Martinsburg for many years until he retired.
He married Naomi J. (Hagen) (1915-1999) Caskey and the couple had two daughters: Jennifer Lynette (1954-2015) and Naomi Caskey.
After his graduation from MMA, Caskey maintained contact with the school. He volunteered his time and energy to help start up the alumni association, later becoming its vice president. He was elected executive president of the MMA Alumni Association in 1975, a position he held for 22 years. In 1983, he was also elected to the Board of Trustees at MMA, representing alumni interests there. By 1989, the alumni association began paying him for his service. At the time of his death, he was the alumni director emeritus at MMA.
He was known as a tireless worker so it seems paradoxical, perhaps, that he died while vacationing at Jekyll Island, Georgia. He was 90 years old.
Creator
Morrison Studio
Source
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Publisher
Shenandoah County Library
Date
Labelled "Jan 1932" on box of plates.
Contributor
Identified by Betty Benchoff Page who was a friend of the subject.
Additional biographical information was compiled from public sources including the book, "Massanutten Military Academy" by Robert Mallory Klein, 2001.
Rights
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
Relation
Wilson Rufus Caskey appears in Morrison Studio Collection images 004069 and 008963.
Identifier
004069
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Glass Negative
Collection
Citation
Morrison Studio, “Wilson Rufus Caskey,” Shenandoah County Library Archives, accessed April 19, 2024, https://archives.countylib.org/items/show/32194.
Comments