The founder of the Georgia Military Academy believed strongly in boys being understood. More than anything else, he would argue, boys need sympathetic, intelligent understanding. He would reason that this understanding comes from the noble work of great teachers. In his thinking, it was something that was worthy of the lifelong study of men and women who had consecrated their lives to teaching. Only educators of successful experience and real love for boys, he would contend, should be trusted with this sacred responsibility.

To these ends, Colonel Woodward began to surround his boys with men and women, many of whom remained at Georgia Military Academy for many years and almost all of them making a place for themselves in the great history of the school.

One of the first teacher/administrators who made a difference was Colonel John W. West. An extraordinary teacher of mathematics, he and his Latin- Scholar wife were appointed as teachers in 1903. They spent thirty-two years at Georgia Military Academy - he as a teacher, Commandant of Cadets, and Principal, and she, in later years, as a teacher in the Junior School.

Colonel West's years of service with the school were interrupted when he was named President of North Georgia College in Dahlonega, Georgia. He did, however, return to Georgia Military Academy when he retired after eight years as the North Georgia College President. The original Administration Building (now the administrative office for the Upper School) was named in his honor in 1961.

Miss Mattie P. Andrews came to Georgia Military Academy in 1910, having taught for four years in the Tennessee School for the Blind and having served as Principal of Galloway College for two years. In addition to her organizing and managing the library for many years, she was a teacher of French and English and was a counselor for the boys. A member of the faculty for about thirty years, she was the school's first librarian. The original library, located in Founder's Hall, was called the Mattie P. Andrews Library.

Mr. Thomas Dickey joined the school in 1908 and for the next thirty years was the school's engineer. His major responsibilities included the upkeep of the buildings and the grounds. Mr. Clyde Campfield would join him a few years later carrying on the school's construction until the nineteen seventies.

Major Robert S. Rosser came to Georgia Military Academy in 1910 and remained at the school until his retirement in 1958. During those forty-nine years (the longest tenure of any G.M.A. personnel), he was a teacher and head of the Foreign Language Department. Most notably, perhaps, he held the posts for many years as Vice President of the School and as Secretary and Treasurer of the Governing Board. Rosser Court, a two-story faculty apartment building bears his name.

Another well-remembered man during the first decade of the twentieth century and on into the nineteen twenties was Colonel John Q. Nash. For almost thirty years, he was a teacher of math and Commanding Officer of the Cadet Corps. Memories of him, however, are most recalled as the Commandant of the school.

Mrs. Hattie A. McMullen, before coming to Georgia Military Academy in 1913, was the principal of Norman Institute for five years. She is remembered best as the caring school matron during her thirty years at the school.

Major C.W. Herman and Mr. Clyde Campfield were employed by Colonel Woodward in 1920 at Camp Highland Lake in North Carolina. When that operation ceased to be, both men came to the College Park campus. Colonel Herman and his wife were pursers, and he was the business manager of the school for many years. They were honored with the construction of another teacher townhouse building, the Herman Apartments located on Jackson Street.

Mr. Clyde Campfield, whose tenure at the school was second only to Colonel Rosser, was responsible in one way or another with the building or renovation of almost every building on campus prior to 1975. The new construction building located on Adams Street, across from the Junior School, is named the Campfield Building.

When the Old Gym was demolished and a new structure was built in its place, it was named Woodruff Hall and housed the new library along with a few classrooms and the Military Department. Later, the building was renamed McKay Hall in honor of Colonel J.W.C. "Doc" McKay. His service to the school began in 1936 with teaching and coaching. Later he was called on to help out administratively as Registrar and Director of Athletics. His wife, Sadie, taught for a number of years in the Junior School.

Colonel William R. Brewster, Sr. was honored twice with the naming of buildings for him. The first was the structure behind Rugby Hall. This building would later be renovated and become the Middle School.

The one honor, however, that meant more to Colonel Brewster than any other given him was the renaming of the new academic building which replaced the original Founder's Hall as Brewster Hall.

Colonel and Mrs. M.C. Paget came to Georgia Military Academy in 1928. She taught for fifteen years in the Junior School, and he taught history and became known as one of the outstanding coaches of Georgia Military Academy. After leaving the classroom, Colonel Paget was named Alumni Director. The Gymnasium bears the name of Paget.

The front gate to the school which has become, along with the Eagle, a lasting symbol of Georgia Military Academy was named in honor of Sergeant Archie T. Johnson, the Assistant Professor of Military Science and Tactics in the nineteen thirties.

Likewise, the present Fine Arts Building which replaced Memorial Hall was named in honor of Mrs. Alonzo "Sweetheart" Richardson who influenced boys over many years as their Sunday School teacher and as one of the Directors of the Y.M.C.A. program.

Other distinguished staff members whose tenure and service to the school over the years and who still bring fond remembrances from alumni include the following:

	Major N.J. Castellanos, Head of the Foreign Language Department.
	Mrs. Marie "Mama" Castellanos, teacher of Spanish and librarian.
	Mrs. E.B. Phillips, School Nurse.
	Captain Dwight Keith, coach and first Junior School Principal.
	Colonel Harry Edwards, teacher, Head of Mathematics Department
		and Junior School Principal.
	Colonel Elmo Mitchell, science teacher, Head of the Science
		Department, and Academic Dean.
	Colonel John R. Burnett, Commandant of Cadets.
	Major Karl Thelander, teacher of mathematics
	Major Les Fouts, swimming coach.
	Major Ted Hays, Director of the Band and Glee Club.
	Colonel Dean Russell, teacher of mathematics.
	Mrs. Ruth Russell, teacher of English.
	Mrs. Lottie Wilson, Head of Mathematics Department.
	Major Fred Dial, teacher of commercial subjects and Head of
		Social Studies Department.
	Major Grant Gillis, coach and Head of the Clothing Store.
	Major Ira Sanderson, coach, Director of Admissions and
		Director of Alumni Affairs.
	Major Abram T. Ferguson, teacher of English, French, and Latin.
	Mrs. Bobby Alford, teacher of English, Head of English Department.
	Mr. Fred Young, Director of Food Services.
	Thalia N. Carlos Science Center - for the wife of Michael C. Carlos.
	Woodruff Hall, one of the many buildings donated by Robert W.
		Woodruff, alumnus from the Class of 1908, first Distinguished
		Alumnus Award recipient, and former member of the governing
		board.
	Jones Cafeteria - Joseph W. Jones, governing board member, namesake
		and first recipient of the Joseph W. Jones Distinguished
		Service Award.
	Colquitt Stadium and the Colquitt Student Center - James A. Colquitt,
		alumnus from the Class of 1936 and Chairman of the governing
		board.
	Evans Hall, the girls' dormitory - Mrs. Lettie Evans, associate of
		Robert W. Woodruff
	Weltner Hall, addition to the girls' dormitory - Dr. Phillip Weltner,
		associate of Robert W. Woodruff.

Over the years, buildings have been named to honor benefactors of Georgia Military Academy who were not necessarily classroom teachers or school administrators. Among these are the following:

	The Busey School located in Riverdale, Georgia - Dr. Thomas J. Busey, Jr.,
		alumnus from the Class of 1949 and governing board member.
	The Cecil A. Kennedy Natatorium, an Olympic swimming complex - Cecil A.
		Kennedy, alumnus from the Class of 1935 and governing board member.
	The original swimming pool located in the general area of the Middle School
		and to the right of Richardson Hall - St. Elmo Messingale, Jr.,
		an alumnus.
	The Gresham Chapel - Dr. Richard C. Gresham, alumnus from the Class of 1907
		and governing board member.
	Rutland Hall Infirmary - Calvin Rutland, alumnus from the Class of 1937,
		one of the first alumni presidents, and members of the governin
		 board.
	Tucker Hall - Dr. Robert P. Tucker, governing board member.
	R.L. Brand Hall - R.L. Brand, almnus from the Class of 1935 and governing
		board member.
	Carlos Hall, the new Administration Building - Michael C. Carlos, alumnus
		from the Class of 1944 and governing board member.

Excerpt from “The Woodward Story”, by Robert Ballentine, published 1990 by Jostens Printing and Publishing; content used with permission of the copyright holder, Woodward Academy Inc., College Park, Georgia, USA.