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William R. Prescott Passed Away

MarkusMurphy88's picture
MarkusMurphy88
There can be only one!
merits: 15122

This is really sad to hear. I had many great experiences with Colonel Prescott.

PennLive.com wrote:
Lieutenant Colonel William Roy Prescott Sr.,USA,(Ret) known to thousands of Milton Hershey alumni simply as "the COL", died peacefully at his home early Saturday morning. Bill, started in the fledgling Air Force he then attended OCS and went, as he liked to say, "first class" as an US Army Airborne Ranger Infantry Officer. He served around the world and on one of his first assignments, in AugsburgGermanyhe met and married his wife of 53 years, Elfriede (Susi) Schmid. While a Professor of Military Science at the West Virginia State College, he travelled to Ft. Indiantown Gap for cadet summer training, there he found another love of his life, Hershey PA. Hershey offered the perfect compromise between the disparate beginnings of Susi from Bavariaand Bill from South Georgia. The Milton Hershey School (MHS) valued not only the life experiences, the career of service including tours in Vietnamand Koreabut also Bill's teaching style and demeanor on the podium. Whether in the social studies classroom, or as the Drill Team instructor, or as class advisor, Bill cherished the opportunities of shaping young minds and loved the opportunity to help young orphans become self sufficient, productive members of society.
Born in rural Brantley County in South Georgiain March of 1929 , perhaps it was his own situation of being an orphan at age 10 that caused the resonance he felt with the students of his beloved MHS. He is survived by three sisters, Barbara Kennedy (AL), Jackie Holley (GA), Mae Chambers (GA), and two brothers Ben Prescott (TX) and Byron Prescott (GA). Two brothers preceded him in death, the late Melvin Prescott and Lester Huey Prescott. Beside his wife Elfriede, Bill has left a rich legacy of immediate family in the Hershey area including his daughter Tina Prescott Watts, her husband Jeffrey and their two sons Ryan (24) and Tyler (19). His own son, W. Roy Jr., moved back to the family homestead after also retiring from an Army career with his wife, Georganna and Bill's other two grandchildren Michaela (13) and his namesake, William Roy III (a.k.a. "Liam," 7).
A funeral service has been scheduled for 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 2nd in All Saints Episcopal Church, 310 Elm Avenue, Hershey. Viewing will be from 10:00AM until time of service. Interment with honors will be in the HersheyCemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Hospice of Central PA, 1320 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110. Whether it was the can-do spirit that he exuded, his quick wit, or many talents both with his hands and as a natural born leader, Bill was the embodiment of the Infantry motto . . . . . . . "Follow me. Share condolences with the family at hooverfuneralhome.com
www.pennlive.com/obits

--

We cannot go back and make a new beginning, but we can start to make a new ending.



MColeman88's picture
MColeman88
Rookie 0-99 merits
merits: 82
So sad to hear that...

I loved Colonel! He was one of my favorite teachers. I used to have class with Audra Brown and Teresa Robinette and he used to take us out to Pizza Hut everytime we got an A on our tests! We had the best time with him. My condolences to his family.

He will be missed.



RobR89's picture
RobR89
Novice 100-999 merits
merits: 239
The Best.

I remember being in his class. He was the best. All you would have to do is bring up current events and that was it. He would go on and on and before you knew it, class was over.

His best line was one he use to use on Damion Dill. Damion would talk or just not have the right answer. Mr. Prescott would say, "Look at Damion, sitting there fat, dumb and happy singing a song."

My senior year he made me write a letter to Pres. Regan. I wrote it by hand and he had a Mac. Yes a Mac, back in 1988-89. I got a note back from Pres. Regan. I don't think a year goes by with out talking about him.

I also would love it in his class. Besides being part blind and deaf. If someone didn't know the answer to a question on a test. You could just say in normal voice, "Whats the answer to number 8?" He wouldn't hear you. What a great man and teacher. If I would have known about it. I would have gone to is funeral. He will be missed.

Rob



1psuviking's picture
1psuviking
Novice 100-999 merits
merits: 354
I remember him...

I know I had him for Social Studies while there at MHS, but I can't remember what year I was in when I had him. He was pretty straight forward but did have a sense of humor. I have nothing but good thoughts and memory of him as a teacher. RIP Colonel. Crying

--

Nils K. Johannessen

Class of would have been... 1987!

Penn State



Mel Horn's picture
Mel Horn
Novice 100-999 merits
merits: 587
I knew all these Acropoli would come in useful...

Mel Horn wrote:

He arrived at MHS somewhere around 1971 or so, a couple years after my time.

The Great Acropolis Database shows him in the 1973 edition, confirmed by Mr Brown (who he replaced) last seen in '72.

--

Great Quotes in History Dept: Barbara Billingsley as June Cleaver, 1957- "Ward, you were a little rough on the Beaver last night..."



Rickmyers1981's picture
Rickmyers1981
Brown 1000-2499 merits
merits: 2053
Ya Gotta Love Our Teachers

I ran into the Col after he had retired, He told me the same thing, 'Your class was the best I ever had."

I think it’s written in the teachers hand book under, "Closing line when speaking with Students and Alumni."
If you stand close to a teacher at Home Coming you can hear them repeat that same line over and over again. LOL

Man, he was a great teacher………And I was fortunate enough to have been in his class.

--

I thank G-d every day that Milton Hershey wasnt a Liberal, I would have never had the home I had.



Mel Horn's picture
Mel Horn
Novice 100-999 merits
merits: 587
Had the honor...

of meeting him at Mr Andy Kavalecs' funeral in early 2007. I got to tell him his "reputation preceded him!"

He arrived at MHS somewhere around 1971 or so, a couple years after my time.

--

Great Quotes in History Dept: Barbara Billingsley as June Cleaver, 1957- "Ward, you were a little rough on the Beaver last night..."



L.Buoni 91's picture
L.Buoni 91
Spartan 5000-9999 merits
merits: 8459
I too loved him

he was such a nice guy. I had him for his very last year of teaching, and he was super sentimental about us and his time there. He did say were his best class ever. Smiling And I took him at his word. I really loved his class and chatting with him about current events. He will def. be missed.

--

"With God All things are Possible!"



Rickmyers1981's picture
Rickmyers1981
Brown 1000-2499 merits
merits: 2053
Colonel Prescott

Was one of the best teachers I had at the Home.

One time he had his contacts at Fort Indian Town Gap bring in a M-60 an M-16 and a few other "Learning Aids"
Let someone try that today, the administration would have a ”Milt" LOL.

He was one of many at the Home who taught us pride in Country, State and School, and in each other.
His own childhood and his military background gave him a unique insight to what made a bunch of orphans tick.

He understood that we were all we had.

He will be missed, but never forgotten.

--

I thank G-d every day that Milton Hershey wasnt a Liberal, I would have never had the home I had.



steve's picture
steve
Spartan 5000-9999 merits
merits: 6717
thanks

yes, now I remember him! Ashamed

--

So...... how's that whole "hopey-changey" thing working out??
So...... how long before you admit Obama was a mistake?
"fairness" isn't giving my money to lazy people.



Maureen 87's picture
Maureen 87
Novice 100-999 merits
merits: 723
He was one of the best

Col Prescott is one of those teachers who made learning a pleasure! He indulged my love of history(although maybe it was we indulged each other..LOL)and never had a cross word for anybody. I was blessed to have him as a teacher....

God Bless Colonel and his family...



steve's picture
steve
Spartan 5000-9999 merits
merits: 6717
does someone have a picture,

my memory escapes me. I remember the name but never had him as a teacher. Ashamed

--

So...... how's that whole "hopey-changey" thing working out??
So...... how long before you admit Obama was a mistake?
"fairness" isn't giving my money to lazy people.



kearney92's picture
kearney92
Novice 100-999 merits
merits: 552
be at peace colonel

I never had the privledge of meeting the colonel but I heard great things.

rest in peace

--

Hard work spotlights the character of people; some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all!



Average Milt's picture
Average Milt
Novice 100-999 merits
merits: 235
He was a big influence on me.

Colonel Prescott influenced me in ways that I didn't realize until years later. I found him to be forthright, personable, enagaging, and had fine sense of humor. I modeled myself after him when I was in the service as far as military bearing. I guess we tend to emulate those whome we respect and admire.

I'm sad that he's passed, and there's not too many people in this world that I can say influenced me. So from one soldier to another-

Fix Bayonets! Sir........

--

Brendan W. Gethin



smokeeaterat44's picture
smokeeaterat44
Novice 100-999 merits
merits: 210
passing of a very intersting teacher

the Colonel as he was known was a great man. as others say will say he will be missed

pat kennedy 85



Chris's picture
Chris
Brown 1000-2499 merits
merits: 3052
I'm so sorry to hear this

My condolences go out to his family.

--

...after all,what is today but yesterday's tomorrow.



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