Happy Birthday to one of Clemson’s Finest
Col. Ben Skardon, Class of 1938
Clemson Professor 1964 – 1985
Clemson Resident 1964 – ????
Nearly one hundred friends sang Happy Birthday to Col. Ben Skardon as he walked up Woodland Way, in Clemson, on Friday afternoon. They were there to support their (almost) 102-year-old neighbor and friend, and to surprise him with a sign to mark the trail, his “Sylvan Delight”, located in seven-acres of Clemson University property. The trail begins a mear 50 yards from his own driveway and winds through the woodlands up to the highest point on the university campus (above the new Douthit Hills dormitories, formerly Daniel Dr). The permanent sign, purchased by the City of Clemson, should be delivered and mounted next week.
There was a time when Col. Skardon used this trail to prepare for the Bataan Memorial March in White Sands, New Mexico. The event is a full marathon with as many as 8000 participants! The Bataan Memorial March has been held every spring since 1989 as a way of remembering the sacrifices of thousands of men, including Colonel Skardon and his Clemson classmates, Henry Leitner and Otis Morgan. More than ten times, until he was nearly 100 years old, Col. Ben walked 8 ½ miles on that high desert trail in New Mexico. This spring, at 101 years and 8-months old, Col. Skardon amazed everyone again as he walked over three miles in honor of those who did not survive the Death March in 1942. What Col. Skardon has accomplished on the other side of the country, on a national stage, was made possible because of the training, and preparation, he did right here on this trail in Clemson, South Carolina.
Col. Skardon will turn 102-years-old on July 14th and still walks parts of Woodland Way daily. On one of those walks with friends, months ago, he commented (as only a gifted English Professor would) that this was his “Sylvan Delight”. Immediately – there was a name for the trail! According to the dictionary sylvan means ‘wooded, or pleasantly pastoral’. As some of the “Friends of Ben” group was setting up on the morning before the new sign was to be unveiled a young deer was spotted near the trail – right in the heart of the town and on the edge of the university! For Col. Ben, and others, the beautiful wooded setting has provided a feeling of peace and delight over the years. Marking this trail by the City of Clemson is a symbol of respect for Colonel Skardon and his devotion to his beloved town, university, and country.
When asked how he felt about the surprise, Col. Skardon lit up and said “All I could do was grin. It doesn’t get any better than this!”
The staff of ClemsonSportsNews.com wish Col. Skardon a very happy 102nd birthday on Sunday.
Happy trails to you, Colonel!
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