Members past and present of SFA’s ROTC program and members of their families came to campus Feb. 22 and 23 to celebrate the program’s 50th anniversary.

During the celebration, attendees took part in a Sportsman Social held at Meadow Ridge Archery and Gun in Nacogdoches. Saturday’s events kicked off with the 1st Lt. Kile G. West Memorial 5K Challenge and 1K Fun Run, followed by a demonstration at the program’s obstacle course, named in West’s honor.

West, who graduated from SFA in 2005, attended the field artillery officer basic course and was assigned to the 1st Calvary Division at Fort Hood. West and four of his men were killed in action on May 28, 2007, in Abu Sayda, Iraq, while en route to rescue the crew of a downed U.S. aircraft. West was the first officer commissioned at SFA to be killed in action. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star with Valor and the Purple Heart. West’s mother, Nanette West, was recognized during a luncheon held in Shelton Gym.

During the luncheon Maj. James Attaway, professor and chair of military science, recognized the many alumni and cadets who have impacted the program during the past five decades. The weekend’s events closed with the ROTC program being recognized during halftime of the Lumberjack basketball game on Saturday.