Although West Point’s impact on me has been significant, it is challenging to describe. It has blessed me with lifelong friends, given me a persistent reminder to do my duty, provided me with a moral compass and inspired in me a desire to keep learning. This is how I would describe West Point’s impact on me.
When faced with a challenging decision throughout my life, I relied on my conscience to guide me. I would ask myself: what is the “right” thing to do? And what was “right” was formed, in large part, by West Point. When I had the courage to do the “right” thing, the result was always beneficial.
In addition to doing the “right thing”, West Point impressed upon me to do my best in whatever I was doing and to do so with a sense of caring about those I was responsible for such as my family, soldiers or students.
I developed a passion to keep learning. I realized that the world around me was changing and that I better continue to read, write and teach if I wanted to remain relevant.
It is ironic that after graduating I returned to teach cadets history and now, I return periodically to West Point to teach rising corporate leaders at the Thayer Hotel.
At this point in my life, I feel very fortunate to have had that compass in my back pocket and true friends whom I will cherish to the end.
Bob Ivany
With a Fellow Football Fan – 1984
It was the summer of 1984 and I was a lowly major who had been recently transferred from the Pentagon to the White House. I was being ushered into the Oval Office to meet President Reagan and I was just a bit nervous. I had been carefully prepared for my assignment as his Army aide for a, hopefully, two-year stint. Now was the big moment to meet him.
President Reagan greeted me and vigorously shook my hand. “Major Ivany good to have you as my aide. I understand that you played football at West Point.”
I was surprised at his question but, of course, answered that I had played for Army. “Well,” he said, “what position did you play?” I aanswered that I played offensive tackle. “Marvelous,” he replied, “I played offensive guard at Dixon College. Now what side of the line did you play on?” I played on the right side, I answered. “Wonderful,” he said “I played on the right side as well. The right side is always stronger!” Our short exchange only lasted a minute or two, but I never forgot his kind effort to put me at east, to show his personal interest, and give me a memory for a lifetime.
