Plus: 70 Class of 2021 legacy cadets

Photo above: Cadet Michelle Banzon, seen third from the left, running across Summerall Field with classmates in September, 2020 after receiving their Citadel bands of gold.

Michelle Banzon, graduating as a member of The Citadel Class of 2021, isn’t the first, nor the last, member of her family to be a part of the college’s Long Gray Line.

Her father, Col. Roy Banzon, USA, preceded her in 1991, her older brother, Romar, graduated in 2020, and her younger brother, Nicasio (Nic), follows as a member of The Citadel Class of 2024.

Michelle was so happy about following in her dad’s footsteps as a cadet that, during her knob year, she took some of her favorite photos of her dad as a cadet and restaged them with her classmates.

Michelle is a high achiever, attending The Citadel on a U.S. Army scholarship and earning Dean’s List and President’s List awards, while keeping a watchful eye on Nic.

“I only helped my little brother if he asked. I did not want him to feel like he was in my shadow because he has always been very independent,” Michelle said. “I watched him from a distance and gave him tips, much like my dad did for me.”

“The most compelling thing was probably getting the opportunity to go through a similar experience as my father. It may not be exactly the same because of the time periods, but we could share stories and have that understanding with the same emotions and feelings about it,” Michelle said. “It is hard to start fresh/new if you have a dad that has accomplish so much in his life, I wanted to make him proud during my time at the Citadel.”

The Criminal Justice major spent part of her childhood living in South Korea where her father was stationed as an officer in the U.S. Army and where she has fond family memories. Roy, who was born in the Philippines and became a U.S. Citizen almost 40 years ago, is now stationed at Shaw Airforce Base in South Carolina, less than two hours from his children at The Citadel in Charleston. He is the executive officer for U.S. Army Central’s oversight, regulatory, issue resolution, and continuous improvement functions. 

“It is truly amazing how much I enjoy seeing the success my children are experiencing at The Citadel,” Col. Roy Banzon, ’91, said. “I went to The Citadel 30 years ago, in 1987-1991, when there were different challenges. The academic success my children had, where I struggled as a cadet, is truly a testimonial to my late wife Marlyn’s focus on academics when they were in elementary and high school.”

When Michelle was a young teen, Marlyn and Roy expanded their family of four to eight, adopting four siblings from the Philippines, including Romar.

And then after an extended illness in 2018, during Michelle’s knob year, Marlyn died. Though the pain of the loss of her mother lingers, Michelle says her father keeps them strong and focused.

“The advice I gave Michelle is to enjoy the moment and always put in 100% effort when it comes to being a cadet. I would always tell them at dinner time that the way to success is not meeting the standard, but exceeding it. If you want to reach the moon, you have to aim for the stars. Because if you aim for the moon, you may come short and miss. Always strive higher than your goal and you will never be disappointed in yourself.”

Col. Roy Banzon, USA, The Citadel Class of 1991

In considering his son, Nic’s recent recognition as a member of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets, Col. Banzon continued, saying:

“The Citadel was my first introduction to a military way of life, besides being a U.S. Navy dependent. I still recall the anxiety and challenges of being a “knob” placed on my shoulders straight out of high school. It was intense, but it taught me that I was not alone in my journey. And I could not accomplish anything by myself. The friends I made in Echo Company Class of 1991 were my brothers forged by shared hardships. The things we endured, we did it together. Being a Citadel graduate allowed me to understand that challenges and failure aren’t negative. It only means that we took a road less travelled and it has made all the difference in our lives, to include the success I have today with my U.S. Army career and my family.

Nic, a business administration major, is already achieving Dean’s List grades.

“To be honest I considered everything else but The Citadel…that was until I saw my dad’s face when we received the acceptance letter,” Nic said. “Having a sister at The Citadel, especially as a senior, has pushed me to work harder for what I want in my cadet career, to live in the moment, and enjoy making and sharing memories.”

Michelle leaves The Citadel as an Army 2nd Lieutenant, soon beginning her training as Quartermaster before leaving for her first duty station in South Korea.

“I have made so friends and many memories that I would not trade for the world. I know for a fact that wherever I go in life, my classmates and I will have each others backs. I listened to my dad who said to enjoy the small things at The Citadel because when we look back those are going to be the big things. The past four years are going to be a chapter of my life that will be hard to beat.”

Michelle Banzon, The Citadel Class of 2021

Announcing the Class of 2021 cadet legacies

All of the cadets listed below will accept their diplomas from their alumni fathers or in some cases grandfathers and uncles named below in the righthand column.

Graduate Name		Alumni Name on Program
Barnes, William		Mr. James Timothy Barnes, ’84
Crawford, Braxton		COL Cardon Brice Crawford, USA, Retired, ’83
Crook, Jesse		Mr. Jimmy Byrnes Crook, ’88
Crosby, Jonah		Mr. Joe Michael Crosby, ’91
Curtis, William		COL Garth Thomas Bloxham, USA, Retired, ’74
Fortner, Ray		Mr. Robert Ray Fortner Jr., ’85
Freeman, Robert		Mr. Robert Dane Freeman Jr., ’90
Hammerstone, Thomas		Mr. Todd Hammerstone, ’93
Harrington, Bryce		Mr. Edward Jackson Harrington Jr., ’86
Heidt, Calahan		Dr. Harold Mitchell Heidt, ’75
Herring, Buddy Garrett II		Dr. Robert Eugene Herring ’90
James, Warner		Mr. Gregory Kendrick James, ’94
Jenkins, Clifford		Mr. Clifford Abbott Jenkins, ’88
Kreisler, John		Mr. John Christoper Kreisler, ’89
Massey, Aidan		Mr. Scott Derek Massey, ’92
Mills, Hunter		LTC Harry Lewis Mills Sr., USA, ’58
Moorman, William		Mr. William Talley Moorman Sr., ’86
Pappas, Nicholas		Mr. Paul Arthur Pappas, ’92
Rathke, William		Mr. Eric Thomas Rathke, ’93
“		LTC Daniel Arthur Raymond Jr., USA, Retired, ’65
Robards, Frank		Mr. Frank Benjamin Robards III, ’81
Shealy, Charles		Mr. Gregory Gerald Shealy, ’90
Starnes, Myles		Mr. William David Starnes, ’76
Thomas, Seth		COL Scott David Thomas, USA, Retired, ’82
Walker, Johnny		Dr. Robert Hasselle Bowles, Sr.
Webster, Colton		Mr. David Richard Webster, ’90
Adams, Carson		Mr. Brock Christopher Adams, ’85
Bachelor, Brent		Mr. Donald Hall Bachelor, ’90
Bailey, Nathan		Mr. Donal Charles Bailey, ’83
Baker, Heath		Mr. Thomas Randall Baker, ’82
Banzon, Michelle		COL Roy Dominquez Banzon, USA, ’91
Bennett, Cade		Mr. Robert Gordon Bennett III, ’93
Brown, Drew		Mr. Coy Brown, ’92
Chapman, Charles		Mr. Lee Chapman, ’86
Chastain, Carey		Pastor C. Michael Chastain, ’74
Cherry, Cody		Mr. Frank Thornton Cherry, ’92
“		Mr. Jim Marion Cherry Jr., ’61
Conrad, Grayson		Mr. Frederick Marshall Conrad, ’90
Curtis, Michael		Mr. Joseph Curtis Sr., ’95
Diggs, Taylor		Mr. Lenny Diggs, ’87
Dunne, Owen		COL Charles Michael Dunne, USMC, Retired, ’90
Elmore, Jackson		Mr. Fred Wendell Elmore, ’84
Esteban, Daniel		Mr. Daniel Anthony Esteban, ’93
Fuhrman, Davis		Mr. Michael Thomas Fuhrman, ’91
Goodwin, Michael		Mr. Michael David Goodwin Sr., ’89
Hanna, John		Mr. Joseph Harrison Hanna Jr., ’79
Hill, Catherine		LTC Ruston LeBarre Hill, USA, ’90
Hooks, Michael		Mr. Michael David Hooks, ’88
Houser, Charles Davis		Mr. Shaler Philips Houser, ’91
Hudson, William		Mr. David Knox Hudson, ’84
Johnson, Dillon		Mr. David Douglas Johnson, ’87
Kress, Patrick		Mr. Adrian Christopher Kress, ’89
“		Mr. James Dawson Smith Jr., ’59
Maddray, James (Ian)		Mr. Justin Bryce Maddray, ’94
“		Mr. John Thomas Maddray, ’69
“		Mrs. Aindrea Bree Maddray ’05
Moore, Brysyn K.		Mr. Derek Moore, ’92
Moseley, Caleb		Mr. Robert Daniel Moseley Jr., ’88
Nuttall, Ryan		Mr. Edward Hucks Nuttall, ’91
O’Brien, John B., Jr.		Mr. John Brice O’Brien, ’90
Oliver, Jerald		LTC Jerald Gordon Oliver Sr., USAF, Retired, ’86
Pantsari, Ansley		COL Matthew William Pantsari, USA, Retired, ’96
Price, Campbell		Mr. J. Scott Price, ’88
Rogers, Thomas		Hon. Thomas Edward Rogers III, ’87
Rowe, William		Mr. Howard Hampton Wright Jr., ’84
Russell, Adam		Mr. William Stephen Russell, ’92
Sands, Anthony		Mr. Anthony Bernard Sands Sr., ’97
Saulnier, George		Mr. George Irwin Saulnier Jr., ’89
Skole, Anthony		Mr. Tony Skole, ’91
Smithdeal, Thomas		Mr. Joseph Collins Smithdeal, ’89
Swain, Matthew		Dr. Christopher Curtis Swain, ’81
Thompson, Jason		Mr. Jason Randall Thompson, ’93
Wilson, Kevin		COL Thomas Graham Wilson Sr., USA, Retired, ’68
“		COL Thomas Graham Wilson Jr., USA, ’96
Young, Greyson		Mr. William Jeffrey Young, ’77