William S. Key
William Shaffer Key (October 6, 1889 – January 5, 1959) was a decorated officer of the United States Army with the rank of major general, and businessman. A member of the Oklahoma National Guard, he was called into federal service and participated in combat on the Western Front during World War I as the division quartermaster of 7th Division.[1][2]
Following the war, Key returned to the National Guard, also holding several civil assignments including warden of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, chairman of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board, director of the Security National Bank, and state administrator of the Oklahoma Works Progress Administration.[1][3][4]
Key returned to active service in September 1940 as commanding general of the 45th Infantry Division, later embarking overseas for duty as Provost Marshal General of the European Theater of Operations. He then served as commanding general, Iceland Base Command, and completed his service as Chief of the Military Control Commission for Hungary in 1946.[5][6]
Early career
William S. Key was born on October 6, 1889, in Dudleyville, Alabama, as the son of Cullen R. and Hadassah Key. Both of his grandfathers had served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He completed high school in Opelika, Alabama and enlisted the Georgia National Guard as private on April 7, 1907. He was commissioned second lieutenant in summer 1910, but left the National Guard one year later, when his family moved to Oklahoma.[1][7][2]
Key settled in the town of Wewoka and established the Key Hardware Co. and the Wewoka Gas Co. and enlisted the Oklahoma National Guard. He was commissioned again and promoted to first lieutenant on July 12, 1912, and to captain in summer 1916. Key then assumed command of Company G, 1st Oklahoma Infantry Regiment stationed in Wewoka and served on the Mexican Border during the Pancho Villa Expedition, when his unit was called up for federal service in March 1917 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.[1][2]
Following the
Civil career during interwar period
Key returned to the United States in early 1919, re-entering both the hardware business and the Oklahoma National Guard. During the rising racial tensions in Okmulgee and Tulsa counties, Governor Jack C. Walton declared martial law and Key commanded Oklahoma City military district. Key was appointed warden at Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester in early 1924 and held that job until late 1927. He was also president of the Wardens Association of the United States in 1926 and chaired the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board from 1928 to 1932.[1][3][4]
In 1927, Key moved to Oklahoma City and established the Keyokla Oil Company and a real estate business in the Key Building. He was a director of numerous business in the banking sector including Security National Bank from 1928 to 1929 and First National Bank and Trust Company from 1929 to 1933. Key was promoted to brigadier general in the Oklahoma National Guard in August 1928.[1]
He was also active during the Great Depression, when he served as head of the Executive Relief Committee in Oklahoma City, responsible for the coordination of public and private relief efforts to local citizens. Key was also appointed state administrator of the Oklahoma Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1935. During his tenure, he directed a progressive program during which 350 schools and 20 libraries were constructed, along with the building of Oklahoma National Guard armories; from a total of 126 armories built in the United States, 53 were built in Oklahoma under the supervision of Key. Also due to his work in the WPA, Oklahoma received forty-three million dollars in WPA funds, employing more than one hundred thousand Oklahomans.[1][3]
In 1936, Key was inducted to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Key was also involved in politics as the Democratic candidate for Governor in January 1938. During the campaign, Key was accused by another candidate of irregularity in the building of one of the state armories. Even though Key denied that, he lost to Leon Phillips by the difference of 3,300 votes. He then worked as director of Lincoln Income Life Insurance Company in Louisville, Kentucky until 1941.[1][8]
Military career during the Interwar period
Key remained active in the Oklahoma National Guard during the 1920s and 1930s. Following his return from France, Key reverted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and served as commanding officer of the 160th Field Artillery Regiment until July 1925. Following his promotion to brigadier general on August 18, 1928, he was appointed commanding general, 70th Field Artillery Brigade. In February 1937, Key was appointed commanding general of the 45th Infantry Division, and was promoted to major general in April of that year.[1][6][2]
World War II
Due to worsening situation in Europe, Key was called up into active service in September 1940 and led his command during the Louisiana Maneuvers in the fall of the year. He then received additional duty as commanding general, Fort Sill, Oklahoma and was responsible for the training and preparation of 45th Infantry Division for service overseas.[6][3][2]
Key held another additional duty as acting commanding general,
He served in this capacity under a succession of Theater Commanders, including
Key then assumed duty as commanding general,
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Major General William S. Key (ASN: 0-153045), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during the period from June 1943 to December 1944. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Key reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army.
Key was also appointed Knight of the Order of the Bath by the United Kingdom and Knight Commander of the Order of the Falcon by the Government of Iceland.[5][1][6][2]
In January 1945, Key was ordered to
Postwar period
Key was subsequently ordered back to the United States and retired from active duty. He remained active in
In 1948 the
Major General William S. Key died on January 5, 1959, aged 69, in
Decorations
Here is Major General Key's ribbon bar:[5]
1st Row |
Oak Leaf Cluster
| |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2nd Row |
Legion of Merit | Bronze Star Medal | Army Commendation Medal
| |||||||||||
3rd Row |
Mexican Service Medal | World War I Victory Medal with five Battle Clasps |
American Defense Service Medal | |||||||||||
4th Row |
American Campaign Medal | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
|
World War II Victory Medal
| |||||||||||
5th Row |
Knight of the Order of the Bath (Great Britain) |
Knight Commander of the Order of the Falcon (Iceland) |
Oklahoma Distinguished Service Medal |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "KEY, WILLIAM SHAFFER (1889–1959) - Oklahoma Historical Society". okhistory.org. Oklahoma Historical Society Websites. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-312-34614-7. Retrieved December 8, 2017.)
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ a b c d "General Key's Career". timesmachine.nytimes.com. New York Times Websites. May 6, 1943. p. 12. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ a b "William S. Key Correctional Center". oklahoma.gov. Oklahoma Department of Corrections Websites. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Valor awards for William S. Key". valor.militarytimes.com. Militarytimes Websites. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Biography of MG William Shaffer Key, USA". generals.dk. generals.dk Websites. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ a b c "Gen. W.S. Key Named Chief Of Army Police in Europe". timesmachine.nytimes.com. New York Times Websites. October 27, 1942. p. 4. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ a b "Key, William Shaffer, 1936 - Oklahoma Hall of Fame". oklahomahof.com. Militarytimes Websites. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ "GEN. KEY ASSUMES LONDON COMMAND". timesmachine.nytimes.com. New York Times Websites. May 6, 1943. p. 12. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ "AMERICAN AIR CHIEF KILLED General Andrews Is Victim of Bomber Crash in Iceland - Madera Tribune, Volume LI, Number 57, 5 May 1943; page 1; California Digital Newspapers Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ "Gen William Shaffer Key Sr". Find A Grave. 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2020-01-10.