Doctor James Kenneth McCollum, Professor Emeritus, 88, died peacefully under hospice care on December 10, 2023. A retired US Army Major and Vietnam War veteran, his military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medal with Silver Star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Master Parachute Badge, and Republic of Vietnam Army Parachute Badge.
Dr. McCollum was born on June 27, 1935, in Vandalia, Missouri to John Wesley and Annabel McCollum. He graduated from Vandalia High School and played on the school’s basketball and baseball teams and sang in the chorus. In 1954, he enlisted in the Army and served in West Germany. While in West Germany he was accepted to the United States Military Academy Preparatory School and entered West Point as a cadet in 1956 as a member of the class of 1960. Upon graduation from West Point he married his sweetheart, Barbara Ann Loefstedt, at the Cadet Chapel and attended the Basic Airborne Course at the US Army Airborne School, Fort Benning, Georgia followed by the Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Dr, McCollum’s twenty year Army career included service again in West Germany with 2nd Battalion 75th Artillery; battery command of A Battery 7th Battalion 8th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Bliss, Texas; two tours in Vietnam, one as a 175mm self-propelled howitzer battery commander of C Battery 6th Battalion 27th Artillery, and one as a Military Assistance Command Vietnam advisor to the Republic of Vietnam Army Airborne Division with operations in Vietnam and Cambodia; assignments at Fort Bragg, North Carolina with 1st Battalion 320th Field Artillery then 82nd Airborne Division Artillery, and the US Army Institute for Military Assistance. Upon retirement from the Army Dr. McCollum turned to a new career in academia.
Dr. McCollum, having earned two Masters degrees while on active duty in the Army, earned a PHD in 1979 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Business Management. He started his teaching career at Auburn University and in 1984 joined the University of Alabama in Huntsville Business School faculty. Promoted to Full Professor, he was selected for the Fulbright Scholar Program to teach in Romania in 1991 and also in 2003 after being awarded the title of Professor Emeritus, having retired from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 1998. He established a long-time relationship with the Romanian American University and hosted student exchange programs between universities. Post retirement, Dr. McCollum continued his academic engagements in Southern Europe, teaching in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania as well teaching in Iceland and Germany for the University of Maryland.
Dr. McCollum was a longtime member of All Saints Lutheran Church. He loved music and sang in the church choir and Huntsville Community Chorus. He was a Scoutmaster for two Boy Scouts of America troops and an active member of the Rotary Club, West Point Association of Graduates, Vulcan Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association, and Disabled Veterans of America.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barbara; his daughters, Deanna and Jennifer; his sons, James and Michael; his twelve grandchildren; and his two great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 21st at 1:00 PM at Grace Lutheran Church, 3321 Memorial Parkway Southwest, Huntsville, Alabama with the burial immediately following at Maple Hill Cemetery. The service will be officiated by Pastor Keith Cook. Funeral arrangements are provided by Laughlin Service Funeral Home and Crematory.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Operation Smile or Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
