Citadel Class Ring, 1977. Willard Dye Evans
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Description
Willard Evans was born in Kingstree, South Carolina. In the fall of 1976 he was struck by illness while training with The Citadel's soccer team in the Netherlands, and died on September 23, 1976. His classmates purchased this 1977 ring for his family, who donated it to the Museum.
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The oldest known Citadel Class Ring dates to 1895, and features a dark stone with the year '95 inscribed in the center. Early rings changed design from year to year until the design was standardized in 1940. A special war ring was made for those who had been called to active duty directly from The Citadel at the close of the 1942-1943 academic year. This war ring was unique in that it did not have class numerals.
Citadel Class Rings for the Corps of Cadets feature an oval crest with a Palmetto tree and the South Carolina State Seal with the graduating class numerals. The words “The Military College of S.C. 1842” wrap around the oval. The right side of the ring depicts the United States and South Carolina flags, cannon balls, and a star representing the Star of the West steamship that cadets fired upon in January of 1861. The left side depicts a crossed sword and rifle with oak leaves and laurel wreath.
For more information, visit The Citadel Alumni Association's Cadet Ring History & Symbolism website.