Reuben Clark Algood

View Funeral WebcastReuben Clark Algood, Lt. Colonel, ret., United States Army, aged 94, died Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at his home on Athenaeum Street in Columbia. He was born January 15, 1915 in Winston County , Mississippi, the son of the late Louis McCray and Corrie Bennett Algood. He is survived by his wife of over fifty- five years, Alice Wright Algood; two daughters, Patricia Grace (Bruce) Junkin, of Culleoka, Rebecca Clark Moon, of Columbia, three grandchildren, Jefferson (Gabriela) Junkin, of Seattle, Washington, William Clark Moon and Bennett Rebecca Moon and their father, Lawrence William Moon, of Columbia. His only brother, Harold Algood, died in 1976. He was a 1936 graduate of Mississippi State University, where his grandson, William Moon, graduated 73 years later in 2009. His career in the military spanned from the old coast artillery to the guided missile programs of modern days. He served in the 202nd Anti-Aircraft Battalion in the South Pacific during World War II, in combat from New Guinea to the Philippines. After WWII, he graduated from Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He served in I Corps headquarters in Korea. He came to Columbia in 1952 as Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Columbia Military Academy and remained until 1955. Other assignments included Alaska; Japan, where he commanded the 37th AAA battalion; Ft. Totten, New York, North American Air Defense Command, Missile System; and in headquarters of the Joint United States Mission for Aid to Turkey in Ankara. After retirement from the military he served as Veteran's Employment Representative until he retired from that office. Mr. Algood was responsible for the gift of the Athenaeum to APTA and after his retirement took great interest in the restoration, not just in advice but in the actual physical labor at the site. He oversaw the whole project of restoration. Like Winston Churchill he took up brick laying and built the brick posts, designed and erected the iron fence around the property and the wall to the north, designed and restored the fountain and basin and at one time served as Chairman of the Board. He was a member of the American Legion for over sixty years. Funeral services will be held Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols with the Rev. J. Arch Warren officiating. Burial will follow in Friendship Cemetery, adjacent to Friendship Baptist Church in the Culleoka, Community where he was a member for a number of years. Military honors at graveside will be provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Active pallbearers are his grandsons, Jefferson Junkin and William Moon, his nephews, Terrell Algood, Jackson Mississippi; Tonny Algood, Mobile, Alabama; Richard Algood, Paducah, Kentucky; David Algood, of Franklin, Parker Smith Wright of Peachtree City, Georgia; and cousin, James Algood of Columbia. Honorary Pallbearers include John Edward Hilboldt of Washington D.C. , James Borum of Columbia, Richard Quin of Nashville, Dennis Beavers of Blountsville, Alabama, Jack Craig of Columbia, and Goodman Craig of Mobile, Alabama. Memorials may be made to Zion Christian Academy, 6901 Zion Road, Columbia 38401; French Camp, One Fine Place, French Camp Mississippi 39745; or Chamberlain-Hunt Military Academy, 124 McComb Avenue, Port Gibson, Mississippi 39150.