Gen. Robert H.DocFoglesong has been tapped to serve as parade marshal for West Virginia Universitys 2005 Homecoming parade.

Foglesong, a Williamson native and WVU alumnus, will lead students, alumni and members of the community down High Street beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14. He will also be honored during halftime ceremonies of the WVU -Louisville football game, which kicks off at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15.

I am honored to be part of the 2005 Homecoming festivities and eager to return to my native West Virginia and alma mater,he said.

The four-star general is commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe; commander of the Allied Air Component Command in Ramstein, Germany; air component commander of the U.S. European Command at Ramstein Air Base; and director of the Multinational Joint Air Power Competence Center in Kalkar, Germany.

WVU officials say they are honored the general could participate in this years Homecoming festivities.

Gen. Foglesong is one of our most distinguished graduates,said Stephen L. Douglas, president of the WVU Alumni Association.We are honored that he is serving as parade marshal of our Homecoming parade. It will be wonderful to have him back on campus to participate in the weekends festivities.

Foglesong earned three degrees in chemical engineering from WVU a bachelors degree in 1968, a masters degree in 1969 and a doctorate degree in 1971. He is also a 1989 graduate of the National War College at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C.

During his time at WVU , Foglesong was active in the Helvetia, Mountain, Omega Chi Epsilon, Order of the Grail, Sigma Tau Sigma and Tau Beta Pi honoraries. He was also selected to manage the 3,000-cadet Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at WVU and served as wing commander.

After completing his education at WVU , Foglesong relocated to Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi, where he earned his pilot wings. Throughout the course of his 33 years with the U.S. Air Force, Foglesong has accumulated more than 4,350 flying hours.

Foglesong is a highly decorated general and has received numerous service and military awards, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, U.S. Air Forces in Europe Order of the Sword and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, among others.

He has published nearly 60 articles on scientific, leadership and military subjects. One of his most recent articles,Investing in Leaders for the Future: West Virginia Needs to Nurture its Trailblazers,was published in the Charleston Daily Mail.

In 1997, he was inducted into WVU s College of Engineering and Mineral Resources Academy of Chemical Engineers. A year later, he was inducted into the WVU Alumni Associations Academy of Distinguished Alumni.

Foglesong plans to retire next year and establish the Appalachian Leadership and Education Foundation, which would provide leadership training and funds for West Virginia high school students to go to college.