Bill Abernathy, Mentor of Colin Powell

Secretary of State Colin Powell lists a Red Shirt among his lifelong influences. Lt. Col. William C. Abernathy, a 1939 initiate, was Powell's battalion commander in Vietnam and one of the shaping forces in Powell's military career. Powell said in his popular autobiography that Abernathy had a compassionate soul coupled with keen professionalism. He described Abernathy as a "teetotaling Baptist from Arkansas and a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University who never uttered an expletive stronger than 'golly.'" Powell said Abernathy was "no swashbuckler," but that he was a "solid performer who gave troop morale top priority." Bill Abernathy designed the original Red Shirt membership badge in 1939. He died November 23, 1997 in Arlington, Virginia.

FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL