General John R.

Guthrie ‘42
December 21, 1921- May 25, 2009

In honor of the many men and women Princetonians who

have served and continue to serve in our country’s
military, the Alumni and Friends of Princeton University
ROTC and the Princeton Football Association
commemorate and salute the life of General John R.
(“Jack”) Guthrie ’42. His career truly exemplified
Princeton’s motto, “In the Nation’s Service and Service of
All Nations.”

Commissioned through Princeton’s He was also recognized by Federally

Army ROTC program in 1942, a
combat veteran of Korea, and Army
project officer for the launch of
Explorer 1, the first successful US
satellite, General Guthrie rose to
command the US Army’s IX Corps
in Japan and later the Army
Material Readiness & Development
Command.
Employed Women for his efforts to
expand opportunities for the Army’s
civilian and military women. His
military decorations included the
Distinguished Service Medal, the
Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star
Medal.

General Guthrie’s life of service was not limited to the military. An Honors graduate, General
Guthrie served Princeton as a University Trustee from 1981-1985. He was a Class officer for
1942 for more than two decades, including several terms as its class president. In 2000, he was
honored with the Harold H. Helm Award, recognizing "exemplary and sustained service to Annual
Giving." General Guthrie was deeply committed to the vitality and importance of Princeton’s
ROTC programs. He served on the ROTC Advisory Council for over twenty years and was a
founding trustee of the Alumni and Friends of Princeton University ROTC.

“General Jack” was a longtime supporter of the Princeton Football Association, a season-ticket
holder since 1981, and a huge Tiger football fan. We will miss him.

Through a generous gift from former

Princeton President Bill Bowen *58,
family and close friends, a scholarship
to support Princeton ROTC students
was created in his name in 2006.
Information on the scholarship and
how to contribute can be found at
(http://purotc.org/), the Alumni and
Friends of Princeton ROTC website.

Among Trustees 1984