On Friday, June 10, Major General Christopher P. Hughes, Commanding General of USA Cadet Command and Fort Knox, inducted 329 outstanding individuals into the ROTC Hall of Fame during the ROTC Centennial Celebration Ceremony in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Of the 650,000 ROTC graduates, 329 were inducted into the ROTC Hall of Fame. Christian Brothers Academy was the only high school in the Country with two inductees, Brigadier General (Ret) Thomas F. Quinlan ‘59, and Colonel (Ret) Raymond F. Joyce, Jr., ‘40 (posthumously).
Dr. James Schlegel, Head of School, stated “We are proud to have such an impressive amount of outstanding alumni to choose from. These individuals, our Brothers, have served their country, church, and community with dignity and honor. These two men are just the first of many from CBA who belong in the ROTC Hall of Fame.”
Thomas F. Quinlan graduated from CBA in 1959. He received a BS in Education from the College of Saint Rose and went on to pursue a Master’s Degree from SUNY Albany. He served in the US military from 1960-1995. His military awards and decorations include Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Silver Star, Bronze Star with Valor device with Oak Leaf Cluster (2nd award), Purple Heart, Conspicuous Service Cross and Conspicuous Service Medal and the legion of Merit, along with several Meritorious Service Medals and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. While commanding his infantry rifle company in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam during the TET Offensive in 1968, Tom’s company was awarded five President Unit level citations as part of the elite Mobile Riverine Force. CBA is the only high school in the country to have two alumni inducted into the ROTC Hall of Fame.
It was, at the time, the most highly decorated unit in the United States Army. Quinlan retired at the rank of Brigadier General, and since retirement has served on the Board of Directors of a National Veterans Organization including serving as the Regional Vice President for the National Association for Uniformed Services.
Raymond F. Joyce, Jr. graduated from CBA in 1940 and attended Siena College. Joyce was a staff officer of the NYS Division of Military and Naval Affairs retiring as Colonel in the NYS Guard. He served as Treasurer of the City of Albany for over 13 years and Chairman of the Albany City Planning Board for almost 30 years. Joyce was also on the faculty at CBA for many years. Joyce passed away in August 2014. His family attended the ceremony to accept the award.
Joyce served in World War II in Europe as rifle company commander with the 83rd Division. Decorations include the Silver Star, a Bronze Star medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge. He served as treasurer of the NYS Military Heritage Museum and Research Center, City of Albany Tricentennial Commission and the Albany-Tula (Russia) Alliance. He was on the executive committee of the Albany All-America City commission, founding treasurer of the Center Art Gallery, board member of the Father Peter Young Center, past president of many organizations including: The Albany Kiwanis Club, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Blessed Sacrament and St. Vincent de Paul Church Parish councils, Camp Thatcher Opportunities, Retired Men’s Fraternity and St. Catherine’s Center for Children. Ray was a member of the USS Albany Commissioning. Ray is the recipient of numerous civic awards including: The 4 Chaplains Award, 3rd Age Achievement Award, and the Leone d’Oro Award.