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Obituaries

Obituary for Dr. Larry I. Bland Dr. Larry I. Bland
Was Editor Of The George C. Marshall Papers

Dr. Larry I. Bland, editor of The Papers of George Catlett Marshall, historian, author, and teacher, died Tuesday, November 27, in Lexington, Virginia. He was 67 years old.

Generally recognized as one of the worldŐs foremost authorities on the life and career of George Catlett Marshall, Bland was working on the sixth volume of the Marshall Papers when he died. The Marshall Papers is the principle publications project of the George C. Marshall Foundation in Lexington.

In addition to the Papers, Bland also edited George C. Marshall Interviews and Reminiscences and George C. Marshall's Mediation Mission to China. He was the author of numerous articles and monographs on Marshall and Marshall - related topics, such as the Cold War, the Marshall Plan, the Truman Doctrine, and Averill Harriman.

Bland was an engaging and sought - after lecturer. In October he was the keynote speaker at the dedication of the new George C. Marshall Conference Center at the US State Department in Washington. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Bland's remarks "insightful and relevant." Earlier this year Bland gave a series of lectures on the Marshall Plan in Turkey at the invitation of the State Department. He frequently spoke at professional meetings - both in this country and abroad, historical societies, government conferences, and civic groups.

In addition to his work at the Marshall Foundation, Bland served as managing editor of the Journal of Military History for 19 years.

Bland was also active in local history affairs, serving as a trustee of the Rockbridge Historical Society and as the editor of the Proceedings of the Rockbridge Historical Society. He also worked on Winifred HadselŐs book, The Roads of Rockbridge.

The recipient of many regional and national awards, Bland most recently received The Victor Gondos Memorial Service Award for long, distinguished and outstanding service to the Society for Military History.

An avid theater buff, Bland was a volunteer technician, set builder, and gofer for his wife, Joellen, who has served for 25 years as Director of the Theater at the Virginia Military Institute.

Like George Marshall, Bland was also a committed and gifted gardener. He was especially known for his deft touch with dahlias, mint, and other difficult plants and flowers.

A native of Indianapolis, Ind., Bland received his BS in Physics from Purdue University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Diplomatic History from the University of Wisconsin. After teaching at colleges in North Carolina, Bland accepted a National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship at the University of Illinois, Urbana - Champaign. He was recommended for the Marshall Foundation position in 1977 by Edward M. Coffman, a distinguished historian from the University of Wisconsin. Bland is survived by his wife of 45 years, Joellen; two sons, Neil of Boulder, CO and Ryan of Lexington; his mother, Emma C. Bland of Indianapolis, IN; and two sisters, Juanita Bower of Mesa, AZ and Janice Bland of Plainfield, IN.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Dec. 7, at the George C. Marshall Foundation on the parade ground at VMI. The family will receive friends after the service.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be made to The George C. Marshall Foundation, the Rockbridge Historical Society or the VMI Theatre.