Character Makes the Man

About the Book

Throughout its 126-year history, Kentucky Military Institute educated more than eleven thousand young men and boys. It was never the intention of the founder of the school, Colonel Robert P. T. Allen, or his successors to train soldiers. Although the daily life was patterned after the life of West Point cadets, the military discipline was intended to teach the young men the value of order and discipline in the conduct of their lives.

The goal of educating young men to live useful and productive lives would remain the primary goal of the school, even when it ceased to be a college and became a preparatory school in the twentieth century.

Although Character Makes the Man did not become the school motto until the early twentieth century, it would have been applicable throughout the school’s history.

About the Author

After graduating from KMI in 1959, the author attended DePauw University where he earned a BA degree in European history. He then attended the University of Arkansas and was awarded an MA degree in American history. He then moved to LSU where he earned a PhD in American history, with a specialty in nineteenth century–American military history.

He taught at Texas Tech University, the United States Army Command and General Staff College, Highland Community Junior College, University of Missouri–Kansas City, and St. Mary College. He also worked as a Preproduction specialist, Media Support Center, Educational Television Branch, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

In 1980, he began a civil-service career with the Air Force History Program. He worked for the Air Force Communications Command, the Air Force Command, Control, Communications and Computer Agency, and finally, the Air Mobility Command.

In 2001, he retired, and he and his wife, Joyce, moved back to their hometown of Mount Carmel, Illinois. They currently reside in the house that has been home to the Young family since 1924.