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To honor, recognize and celebrate the life of former Director of the Columbus Department of Public Safety Alphonso Coleman Montgomery and to extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends on the occasion of his passing, May 21, 2008.
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WHEREAS, Alphonso Coleman Montgomery was born the sixth child to Charles H. Montgomery and Mary L. Steptoe Montgomery in Shreveport, Louisiana. At an early age his parents, both of whom were teachers, moved the family to east Texas. Here Alphonso received his early education. In 1944 he entered Prairie View A&M College at Prairie View, Texas. While there he was enrolled in the ROTC program. He graduated in 1948 receiving a B.S. degree in Biology with a minor in Education; and
WHEREAS, He also was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. In December 1948 Alphonso was called to active duty with the Army where he served in a variety of Infantry assignments. In May of 1952 he was sent to Korea where he served as a combat infantry commander, commanding Company "L" of the 160th Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division, in the Capy Yong Ni-Heartbreak Ridge area. Participation in three campaigns earned the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Commendation Ribbon with medal pendant and the Bronze Star medal; and
WHEREAS, In 1953, Mr. Montgomery was selected for assignment as Assistant Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Prairie View, serving as Senior Instructor responsible for all college junior cadets in advance course military science. He also served as the detachment Adjutant in Zweibrucken, Germany and in 1958 was Commander of a Company, Adjutant and later the Battalion S-3. He also served as the liaison to the German-American Group; and
WHEREAS, He enrolled in the University of Maryland to study German and achieved a measure of fluency in the language. Again stateside, Alphonso was assigned to the United States Army Intelligence School, Ft Holabird, Maryland where he ...
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