BG Roger C. "Cliff" Poole, USAR (Ret.)

BG Roger C. “Cliff” Poole, USAR (Ret.), 87, of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, husband of Anne Harper Poole, passed away from natural causes on Monday, December 2, 2024, at home. His funeral service will be held Thursday, December 5, 2024, in the Summerall Chapel, The Citadel, at 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston at 11:00 am. He will be interred with full military honors in Richmond, Virginia at a later date. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm in the J. Henry Stuhr Mount Pleasant Chapel, 1494 Mathis Ferry Rd, Mount Pleasant.

General Poole was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on December 31, 1936, son of the late Robert Clifton Poole and Waddell Martin Poole. A graduate of The Citadel in 1959, he married Anne Harper on June 27 of the same year. He then continued his education at the University of South Carolina, receiving both his M.B.A. and Ph.D. In 1981, he received a diploma from the U.S. Army War College. General Poole also completed a post-doctoral study in international finance at the London School of Economics.

General Poole served as Dean of the E. Claiborne Robins School of Business at the University of Richmond, Virginia. He joined the University in 1975 where his reputation twice earned him the Distinguished Educator Award. He joined The Citadel as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College in July 1993. He served as the Interim President of the college for the academic years 1996-1997 and 2005-2006 and, upon his retirement, was named Emeritus Professor of the Business Administration faculty. Additionally, BG Poole served as the Director of the Krause Center for Leadership and Ethics from 2011-2012.

The recipient of numerous honors academically and professionally, his accolades include: Honorary Doctorate in Business awarded by the Board of Visitors, The Citadel (2005); the Palmetto Medal Award for Distinguished Service, The Citadel (1998); and The Citadel Alumnus of the Year award (1999). 

Cliff was the patriarch of the Poole family. His self-effacing manner and wry sense of humor were greatly admired by everyone he met. Cliff's extensive education, innate intelligence and compassionate nature had a profound impact on colleagues and students. True to his strong sense of style, he enjoyed giving Anne designer clothing.

He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Anne Harper Poole; son, Steven Dukes Poole (Donna Jean); grandchildren Tyler, and Christopher (Annie); siblings, Larry S. Poole, and Robert E. Poole (Angie); sister-in-law, Anne Poole, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Melinda Anne Poole and brother John F. Poole.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Class of '59 Roger C. Poole Scholarship at The Citadel Foundation, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409.

A memorial message may be sent to the family on our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.