Anonymous Gift to Fund New Memorial Vietnam War Archive
November 11, 2020

Donated through the San Angelo Area Foundation (SAAF), the initial grant of $50,000 to the ASU College of Arts and Humanities is part of a $250,000 commitment to provide for the Griffis Archive.
Facilitated through the ASU Department of History, the project will involve faculty and students from all the academic departments within the College of Arts and Humanities, who will collect the items that will make up the Griffis Archive, including:
- Oral histories of Vietnam War veterans and their families
- Photos and documents
- Artifacts and other memorabilia
As work on the archive progresses, periodic exhibits are planned for the West Texas Collection and in the new ASU Mayer Museum that is in the final stages of construction.
The archive is named in honor of two San Angelo brothers who both served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. William A. (Bill) Griffis III was killed in action on Jan. 24, 1970. Don Griffis completed his tour of duty and returned to San Angelo, where he fashioned a 50-year legal career as a top trial lawyer until his retirement in 2019.
Also during the Veterans Day Luncheon, former ASU athletic director Phil George was introduced as ASU’s 2020 Remembering Angelo’s Military (R.A.M.) Veteran of the Year. A veteran of both World War II and the Vietnam War, George spent 36 years at ASU as men’s basketball coach and men’s athletic director. He led the Rams basketball team to the 1957 NJCAA National Championship and won over 500 games. He was also instrumental in forming the ASU Ram Club fundraising organization for ASU athletics.
“Many San Angelo-area residents know of Coach Phil George, but few know of Lt. Col. George and his astonishing story as a pilot in both World War II and Vietnam,” said Susan Williams, ASU director of affiliated military and veteran services. “His record of service to our nation is as amazing as his record of service to ASU, and we are extremely happy to name him as our R.A.M. Veteran of the Year for 2020.”
Video of an in-depth interview with George, including comments about his military service, is available at angelo.edu/philgeorge.
For more information on the Griffis Archive, contact Klingemann at 325-942-2162 or john.klingemann@angelo.edu.
For more information on the R.A.M. Veteran of the Year program, contact Williams at 325-486-8387 or susan.williams@angelo.edu.