Mac Radcliffe, '55 - Baseball, Football, Baseball
As a star three-sport standout athlete, Mac was a force in baseball, basketball, and football. He was named the best athlete of the 1954-1955 school year. On the diamond, he hit over .400 while pitching gem after gem on the mound. Upon graduation, he held several school basketball records, including points per game, total points, and most points in a single game. He was the honorary captain of the first All-County basketball team. After graduation, Mac entered the University of Virginia with both a Dupont Academic Scholarship and a basketball scholarship. He excelled in his studies and double majored in history and political science. After being accepted and planning to go to law school at UVA, he felt the call of duty during the turmoil of the 1960s and enlisted in the Marine Corps. His life then took a decidedly different direction. He completed Marine Corps Officer Training School and shortly thereafter, he served in Vietnam three times in the 1st Battalion 9th Marines. He was instrumental as a company commander at the DMZ zone, and at the battle of Khe Sahn, where his Battalion earned the name “The Walking Dead” for its high casualty rate. A highly decorated Marine, he was awarded two silver stars, among many other medals, for his leadership and valor. After his service in Vietnam, then Colonel Radcliffe continued serving the Marine Corps until his retirement in the late 1980s. After his retirement, Colonel Radcliffe moved to Charleston, SC where he founded the Lowcountry Leathernecks, a community service group for retired Marines. He lives with his wife Carole and his Boykin Spaniel, Livy, in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Semper Fi! |