Roy Grafe is reserved and book smart. George McIntosh is outgoing and great with hands-on work.
Yet, the two Mississippi State University graduates and military veterans share something that overshadows their differences—a lifelong friendship.
“Their personalities are totally different, but that may be good,” Nell McIntosh, George’s wife, said. “It makes it better,I think.”
At the MSU vs. University of Tennessee football game, Roy and George were honored during the Salute to Service memorial in the third quarter. On the jumbotron, fans could see the pair smiling and ringing cowbells.
The moment was just one in the long list of things they’ve experienced together.
This year marks 70 years since George and Roy graduated from MSU with bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering.
Roy, a Lucedale native, said he chose to study engineering at MSU because of a childhood neighbor.
“He told me early on that he was going to Mississippi State to study engineering. He was older than me, and I just locked in on that,” Roy said. “It sounded great to me. When people would ask me where I was going to school, I’d proudly say Mississippi State.”
Born in Vernal, George began his education at MSU in 1949 because his mother, who only had a third-grade education, insisted he go to college.
George said he remembers packing a footlocker with his belongings and being “dumped” off in front of the post office.
“Before I got my footlocker off the bus, two of my classmates sat me down and shaved my head. I didn’t get much hair back,” he said with a laugh.
George ultimately took time off from his education to join the Army National Guard and serve in the Korean War.
Even though they grew up living no more than 15 miles from each other, it wasn’t until George returned to MSU in 1952 that he met Roy.
“We just hit it off,” Roy said. “We liked basically the same things. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 70 years since we graduated.”
While students at then-Mississippi State College, George and Roy did almost everything together. They joined MSU’s Kappa Alpha chapter and lived in the off-campus fraternity house. They recall spending many hours studying over cups of coffee at The Grill—a campus hot spot at that time—and said they took several history classes together just because of a shared love for the subject.
Because George was the only one with a car, he and Roy would go home together when they could. On the long car rides back and forth to MSU, Roy would read his class notes to George to help them both prepare for upcoming tests. Through studying and easy conversation, the friends’ bond continued to deepen as they reached the end of college.
In 1955, George and Roy graduated, but with such a close bond, they looked for career opportunities that would keep them close.
George said they went around the country interviewing for jobs and received offers from each one.
During a “Salute to Service” when the Bulldogs faced the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Davis Wade Stadium, lifelong friends and 1955 mechanical engineering graduates George McIntosh and Roy Grafe were presented with commemorative cowbells in recognition of their military service, celebrating the moment with fans from both teams across the stands.
“We went to Indianapolis, Kimberly-Clark up in Wisconsin, Ford Motor Company and more. Each one of them paid us to go there,” George said. “We decided all we were going to do is interview for the rest of our lives.”
Ultimately, Roy and George accepted jobs with the Allison Division of General Motors, a former aircraft engine manufacturer, in Indianapolis.
After a few months on the job, Roy decided to return home to Lucedale, where he married Kay, his late wife of 68 years with whom he has two daughters, Dawn and Babette. He joined the U.S. Army’s Scientific and Professional Personnel Program and served for two years as a specialist third class.
Roughly two years later, George married Nell. The couple has two sons, Eddie and Alex—both of whom are MSU engineering alumni—and lived in Indianapolis until 1959. During that time George was promoted to a supervisory position and helped design the Allison 501 engine used in C-130 aircraft.
The McIntoshes joined the Grafes in Lucedale in 1964. They bought land and later built neighboring houses.
In 1966, George found a job with the U.S. Navy’s Supervisor of Shipbuilding in Pascagoula as chief marine engineer and found a job for Roy as engineering supervisory manager, bringing their careers back together.
During that time, they also worked at the Chrysler dealership Roy’s father owned. Roy was a salesman while George worked on the cars. They worked nights and weekends until the dealership sold in 1973.
“When I had to move jobs, I would tell George, ‘I found a job there for you, too. Won’t you come on down and join me?’ He’d do the same thing for me. We had to move often because various plants kept closing, but we just stayed in touch,” Roy said of the friends’ lifelong commitment to staying in each other’s lives. “It’s like that’s what we were supposed to do.”
In the late 1980s, Roy and George retired with over 30 years of service for the U.S. Department of Defense. However, George rejoined the workforce for about 10 years as a project manager with Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula.
Roy said it never crossed his mind in 1952 that his friendship with George would last so long. But looking back at their lives, the friends say they can’t imagine not having each other’s support through life’s trials and triumphs.
“I think a good friend is valuable in whatever you’re doing, whether you’re going to school or working on a job,” Roy said. “A good friend is always welcome.”
By Aspen Harris, Photos by Grace Cockrell
MSU ROTC, military-connected supports combine for national honors
Two Mississippi State University senior ROTC cadets placed in the top 1% at this summer’s U.S. Army ROTC Advanced Camp.
MSU sent 25 cadets to compete against 5,800 participants at the national level. Wyatt Howell, a senior industrial engineering major from Athens, Alabama, earned a No. 6 national ranking, while Samuel Wilkerson, a senior wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture major from Vancleave, finished an impressive No. 46.
The 36-day training event held at Fort Knox, Kentucky, brought together cadets from universities across the nation. MSU has competed in the ROTC Advanced Camp since its inception in the 1950s. Howell’s top 10 finish marks as one of the university’s highest rankings in the Advanced Camp competition.
Brig. Gen. Andrew Rendon, MSU’s executive director of veteran and military affairs, said the cadets’ success underscores the university’s commitment to excellence in both the Army and Air Force ROTC programs—excellence which has earned the university a spot as one of the top 5 military friendly schools in the nation by VIQTORY, also known as GI Jobs.
“The distinction as a top military school simply validates the work we are doing across the university to support and care for our military-connected students, faculty and staff,” Rendon said. “Cadet Howell and Wilkerson’s unprecedented accomplishments highlight this excellence. I am super proud of these young men and also congratulate the work of our ROTC staff and leadership.”
Established during the first World War, the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, known as the ROTC, has a long history on MSU’s campus. In that time, members of the Bulldog ROTC programs have served with honor in all conflicts in which the U.S. Armed Forces have been called on to fight.
From its early days through 1969, ROTC was mandatory for all male students. Today, the Bulldog Battalion, which includes both Army and Air Force ROTC, has approximately 100 students and cadets who volunteered for service. Those who complete the four years of coursework and training graduate with officer commissions in the U.S. Army or U.S. Air Force.
Including dependents, the military-connected community at MSU includes more than 3,000 students. All students who are current or veteran military members, or their dependents, are served by MSU’s Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans at Nusz Hall and a network of specially trained university personnel.