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75:. Upon Wyman's death in 1888, ownership of the school passed to Col. Willis Brown and Albert M. Jackson was made the principal. It was during this time that the school changed its name to Western Military Academy and introduced military training. After eight years at the helm, Col. Brown chose to retire. In 1896 Albert M. Jackson and the academy's financial officer, George D. Eaton purchased Western Military Academy. The Jackson family would retain ownership of the school until it closed in 1971.
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continue to hold the post into the 1950s. Western would have a waiting list of applicants from the 1940s through the 1960s. The academy could and did attract the best students. Part of the appeal of
Western Military Academy was the quality of the academic and military staff. The Military Department was regularly led by graduates of the
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authorities of the
Academy arrange each year a series of receptions, musical and literary entertainments and excursions, so distributed as to relieve somewhat the monotony of school life, and so conducted as to accustom the cadets to the usages of good society." It was a policy the school maintained until it closed.
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was a major factor in
Western's declining enrollment, and had a drastic impact in just a few years. In 1967–68 the school's barracks were filled to capacity, with an enrollment of 325 cadets; three years later, in the 1970-1971 school year, enrollment had dropped by more than half to 154, as shown in
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By the 1940s, the war in Europe and the improving economic situation in the United States would find
Western again at capacity enrollment. Colonel R.L. Jackson (class of 1906) had succeeded his father as superintendent in 1919. He had guided the school through the difficulties of the 1930s and would
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More than 1,000 graduates—that is, more than half of all alumni at the time—served in World War II. More than 40 were killed in action. Brigadier
General A. Owen Seaman, class of 1897, was a member of the earliest known class to serve in World War II. A partial list of the decorations awarded to WMA
87:
Early in the century, Western was designated an Honor
Military School by the United States War Department. By 1920, WMA had been listed in "Distinguished Colleges and Military Schools". That standing granted a school the right to one appointment, without examination, to both the Regular Army and to
83:
In 1900, the academy had an enrollment of 100 cadets. In
February 1903, a fire destroyed the school administration building and the primary barracks, closing the academy for the rest of the term. It reopened in September 1903 with a new administration building and two barracks, and an enrollment of
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reported that in 1895 WMA played Smith
Academy in the first high school football game ever played in the St. Louis. In 1904 Western began a football competition with Alton High School. The annual Thanksgiving Day game, pitting the cadets against the public school team, became "the biggest event on
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During
Western Military Academy's 92 years, athletics were an important part of the cadets environment. A wide variety of sports gave every student the opportunity to participate. Several levels of teams were offered in most sports which included football, cross-country, basketball, wrestling,
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In a WMA circular printed early in the 1900s, the administration defined their thinking on the topic of entertainment. "Having found by long experience that amusements, indulged in to a reasonable extent, are helpful rather than otherwise, to both the deportment and progress of the cadets, the
62:
public schools. A school circular said that Wyman believed the region then called the western United States needed a "boarding school for the proper education of young men." In 1887, Wyman hired Albert M. Jackson to be a member of the staff. Jackson was an 1884
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In the 1930s a WMA catalog labeled football "The King of Sports" at the academy. The school fielded four different teams offering boys of all sizes the chance to play. For most of the school's history well over half the Corps played on a football team. The
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Conservatory. During the thirty-year span from 1940 to the beginning of 1970 Western's enrollment remained between 300 and 325. The academic and military areas of cadet life were supplemented by extensive extra-curricular opportunities.
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was published that year. Enrollment grew as facilities were added; Western enjoyed a full complement of over 300 cadets from 1912 through the 1920s. The reputation of the academy spread as its graduates became successful.
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by Robert Scott, shows that of the 402 WMA graduates after 1909, 295 or 73%, served in the military during the conflict. Four graduates died in the service and others were listed as "wounded" or "lightly gassed."
226:, Korea and Vietnam. Academically, Western boasted a staff with graduates from the most exclusive colleges and universities. Colonel R.L. Jackson, like his father, was a
112:
reduced enrollment at
Western, putting the academy at half capacity through much of the 1930s. Still, the decade had several distinguished graduates, including two of
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By the late 1960s, rising costs and inflation meant the academy would face economic hardships as it moved into the 1970s. The anti-military sentiment caused by the
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on campus in the early 1900s. Other sports offered at times during the school's existence included interscholastic bowling, fencing and an equestrian team.
34:, United States. It operated from 1879 to 1971. The campus is part of the National Register of Historic Places District (ID.78001167). The school motto was
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92:. By 1924, the last two barracks were completed, giving the campus the look it would have until it closed. The first edition of the Western yearbook,
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were among the other guests who spoke at WMA. Several Western alumni would also return to the campus and share their experiences with the cadets.
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Western Military Academy kept detailed service records of its graduates during the First and Second World Wars. The most definitive of the
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370:. In June 1971 the Western Military Academy held its 92nd and final commencement ceremony, and afterwards the school was closed.
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The stone front gate on the Western campus is named the Memorial Gate to honor alumni who died in the service of their country.
58:
graduate, opened a boarding school for boys in what was then Upper Alton, Illinois. Wyman had been an esteemed educator in the
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soccer, swimming, a rifle team, baseball, track, golf and tennis. Western had a golf course designed by prolific golf designer
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353:. Thousands would set aside their Thanksgiving afternoon to attend the game. The rivalry was discontinued in 1952.
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The prestige of the academy helped attract several notable guests to be part of this program.
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Enrollment rose again as the Great Depression ebbed and concern over the war in Europe rose.
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105:. Paley would recall his time at Western Military Academy as a "turning point of my life."
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19:
8:
259:
222:. Several members of that department would have a record of distinguished service in the
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439:, 1914. U.S. Marine Corps major general. Quartermaster General U.S. Marine Corps.
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for his heroism in naval air combat before dying in action in 1943. A 1933 grad,
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31:
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Thanksgiving Day Classic. Alton High-Western Military Academy Football 1904–1951
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graduate and had just completed two years of teaching mathematics and Latin at
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132 students. A third barracks was completed during the academic year.
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The former campus now houses the Mississippi Valley Christian School.
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A Brief History of Western Military Academy in Upper Alton, Illinois
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101:, a 1918 graduate, went on to become the Chairman of the Board for
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539:, 1933. Commander of first atomic bomb mission as pilot of the
198:. The school's records on the service of her graduates in the
503:, 1906. Mexican businessman and philanthropist. Founder of
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690:
History of Western Military Academy, Alton, Il 1879–1971
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History of Western Military Academy, Alton, Il 1879–1971
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Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education
425:, 1943. U.S. Army lieutenant general. Founder of the
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Edward "Butch" O'Hare, World War II recipient of the
30:
was a private military preparatory school located in
636:"Our History - Mississippi Valley Christian School"
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654:
563:, 1963. Author, journalist and popular historian.
50:Edward Wyman, founder of Western Military Academy
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238:, listed instructors who had attended Harvard,
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415:, 1907. U.S. Army major general, head of the
349:the Alton sports calendar", according to the
774:Educational institutions established in 1879
230:graduate and had continued his education at
174:graduates in the World War II include one
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475:, 1944. Sports broadcaster. Voice of the
299:talked baseball with the students. Boxer
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769:Defunct United States military academies
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45:
18:
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303:gave a speech to the Corps. Bandleader
23:Western Military Academy ad August 1918
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653:Ewing, Steve; Lundstrom, John (1997).
389:and alumni of Western Military Academy
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142:on August 6, 1945, to drop the first
709:. Sunday Magazine. December 8, 1930.
120:, a 1932 WMA alumni and namesake of
513:, c. 1950. Television screenwriter.
16:American College-preparatory school
13:
755:, John J. Dunphy, January 14, 2019
455:, 1932. Medal of Honor recipient.
311:performed at Western as did comic
38:("A sound mind in a sound body").
14:
790:
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465:, 1918. Chairman of the board of
397:, 1906. Artist. Did not graduate.
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403:, 1915. U.S. Army major general.
779:1879 establishments in Illinois
54:In 1879, Edward Wyman, an 1835
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574:
531:United States Golf Association
285:National Baseball Hall of Fame
220:United States Military Academy
41:
1:
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325:Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV
180:Distinguished Service Crosses
467:Columbia Broadcasting System
457:O'Hare International Airport
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196:Distinguished Flying Crosses
122:O'Hare International Airport
103:Columbia Broadcasting System
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7:
165:records, as highlighted in
10:
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688:Scott Jr., Robert (2007).
675:Paley, William S. (1979).
234:. The 1940 school annual,
116:'s most decorated pilots.
529:, 1949. President of the
36:Mens Sana in Corpore Sano
679:As It Happened: A Memoir
661:. Naval Institute Press.
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346:St. Louis Globe Democrat
28:Western Military Academy
732:38.907556°N 90.144000°W
707:St.Louis Globe Democrat
527:F. Morgan "Buzz" Taylor
495:World Champion of Makes
427:Korean Military Academy
417:Veterans Administration
351:Alton Evening Telegraph
697:Tibbets, Paul (1981).
666:Jackson, C.B. (2008).
431:New College of Florida
390:
275:Cultural entertainment
256:University of Grenoble
206:wars are incomplete.
51:
24:
737:38.907556; -90.144000
445:, 1912. Owner of the
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264:Washington University
136:, piloted the bomber
49:
22:
521:governor of Illinois
728: /
683:. Doubleday and Co.
557:, 1946. Journalist.
459:named in his honor.
429:. President of the
366:the 1971 yearbook,
657:Fateful Rendezvous
501:Eugenio Garza Sada
437:William P. T. Hill
395:Thomas Hart Benton
391:
323:recipient General
128:, was awarded the
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25:
699:Mission Hiroshima
607:Scott, pp.100-101
598:Scott, pp.99-100.
443:Richard Muckerman
423:Rolland V. Heiser
287:baseball players
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497:(1970 and 1971).
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463:William S. Paley
447:St. Louis Browns
401:Harry J. Collins
110:Great Depression
99:William S. Paley
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56:Amherst College
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32:Alton, Illinois
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747:External links
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449:baseball team.
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387:Medal of Honor
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377:Notable alumni
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357:School closing
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332:
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321:Medal of Honor
317:Amelia Earhart
293:Hank Greenberg
289:Rogers Hornsby
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268:Albion College
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176:Medal of Honor
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157:The world wars
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130:Medal of Honor
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720:38°54′27.2″N
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616:Scott, p.56.
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589:Paley, p.15.
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537:Paul Tibbets
483:, 1957–1964.
477:Chicago Cubs
473:Jack Quinlan
413:Carl R. Gray
407:Rex Everhart
372:
367:
360:
350:
345:
342:
338:Tom Bendelow
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313:Joe E. Brown
307:and crooner
305:Tommy Dorsey
301:Jack Dempsey
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252:Northwestern
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224:World War II
216:
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192:Silver Stars
184:Navy Crosses
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134:Paul Tibbets
114:World War II
107:
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86:
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27:
26:
735: /
723:90°8′38.4″W
580:Scott, p.10
517:John Stelle
493:. Two-time
433:Foundation.
363:Vietnam War
190:medals, 23
163:World War I
144:atomic bomb
94:The Recall,
42:Early years
763:Categories
647:References
368:The Recall
297:Dizzy Dean
236:The Recall
150:, Japan.
90:West Point
73:New Jersey
549:Lee Tracy
542:Enola Gay
511:Tam Spiva
481:WGN radio
331:Athletics
258:-France,
248:Dartmouth
228:Princeton
213:1940–1970
194:, and 15
148:Hiroshima
139:Enola Gay
79:1900–1940
65:Princeton
60:St. Louis
519:, 1908.
260:Columbia
240:Colgate
232:Harvard
204:Vietnam
186:, four
178:, four
126:Chicago
200:Korean
182:, two
568:Notes
319:and
295:and
266:and
244:Yale
202:and
108:The
479:on
146:on
124:in
71:in
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