Richard L. Irby Personal Papers

MAJ GEN Richard L. Irby (1918-2002) had a distinguished career in the United States Army and subsequently served as the Virginia Military Institute's tenth Superintendent. A native of Blackstone, Virginia, he graduated from VMI in 1939 with a degree in Civil Engineering. Irby commissioned in the cavalry branch of the U. S. Army, beginning thirty-one years of military service during which he rose to the rank of Major General. He was a decorated veteran of three wars and twice the recipient of the Silver Star for gallantry in combat.

Irby served in the China-Burma Theater during and immediately following World War II. In 1951 he was a battalion commander with the 1st Cavalry Division in Korea, where he won his first Silver Star. During the Vietnam War he served as assistant division commander and commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, and earned his second Silver Star. Following service in Vietnam he was commander of the U. S. Army Training Center, Infantry, at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and in 1970 he was named commanding general at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He retired from active duty in 1971.

Following the completion of his military career, Irby served as Superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute from 1971-1981. During his tenure VMI experienced a steady increase in applications and enrollment, and embarked on a successful major capital campaign. He retired from VMI in 1981, continuing to live in Lexington, VA until his death on March 6, 2002.