Colonel Curt Southwick

“What One Man Can Do”
           

 In the 2010-11 school year, the media center at A. G. Wright Middle School gained a name.  Through an act of the Stafford County School Board, the center was designated the Curt B. Southwick Library.  This act was a singularly great way to honor Mr. Southwick’s legacy as a highly respected educator, a life-long learner, and esteemed Marine veteran.

           A native of Centerville, Pennsylvania, Colonel Southwick holds a B.A. degree from Grove City College and an M.A. degree from Webster University.  He entered the United States Marine Corps in 1969, was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and was designed a Naval Aviator, earning his Wings of Gold in 1970.  After numerous duty stations and deployments, he returned to Quantico in l992 and was assigned by the Commandant to develop the Marine Corps War College, thus becoming what he is still referred to by fellow Marines as “MCWAR”.

          Teaching was in his future; the time to retire from the military and pursue his future presented itself in 1995.  He began his teaching career at A. G. Wright Middle School, becoming a mentor and teacher, who enjoyed, loved, thrived, and embraced his new “home”.  His fellow teachers selected him A.G. Wright Teacher of the Year for the 2004-05 school year.

            Mr. Southwick learned to speak “Southern” when he married Karlyn, an Arkansas native.  They are the parents of two A.G. Wright Alumni, Zachary Clay and Kris Kehoe and the proud grandparents of Clayton James and Emory Paige.  He always attributed his success to his parents, Alton and Elizabeth Southwick, his brother Kris and his sister Renee.