Ronald H. "Ron" GriffithRetired U.S. Army Gen. Ronald H. "Ron" Griffith, a native of LaFayette, Georgia, who rose from the rank of private to become a four-star general and command the 1st Armored Division in Operation Desert Storm, died Wednesday. He was 82.
Griffith was raised in Fort Oglethorpe and attended Lakeview middle and high schools. He was a graduate of the University of Georgia.
He retired in 1997 as vice chief of staff, the second-highest military position in the U.S. Army. Before that he was the Army's inspector general, a post he held for four years.
Under his command during Operation Desert Storm, the 1st Armored Division attacked and defeated two modern divisions of the Iraqi Republican Guard in less than 72 hours.
After his Army retirement, he served as executive vice president of Military Professional Resources Inc., a provider of private military contract services, and concurrently as executive vice president for the L-3 Government Services Group.
He served as a member of the board of regents at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, on the Board of Visitors at the Virginia Military Institute and on the board of the Aurora Foundation, which helps veterans with higher education.
Survivors include his wife, Dr. Hurdis M. Griffith, dean emeritus of the Rutgers University College of Nursing; two daughters, Laura Thompson and Leigh Ann (Douglas) Todd; siblings Jane and Larry (Carol) Griffith; and five grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements will be announced.