Ben Milligan. (Courtesy photo).
CLIO — The 55th Bruce Welge Citizenship Award was presented to Ben Milligan at Clio Trinity Methodist in Clio, on Sunday, May 4. Ben is the son of Benjie and Haden Milligan and grandson of Gail McInnis and the late John McInnis of Clio.
Ben will graduate from Marlboro Academy and attend Wingate University where he will seek a degree in Business /Economics and play baseball. Throughout his high school career he has been active in school, church, and community activities.
Ben’s high school career shows leadership in both academics and sports. He held positions in the National Honor Society serving as treasurer and service chair, Senior Beta Club , and class president for two years.
In sports, Ben served as president and vice-president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In baseball, he was awarded MVP four times and played All Region and All State four years. In basketball ,he was MVP two times, played All Regional four times and All State two years. He was Region and Conference Player of the Year and a member of the 1,000 Point Club.
The Bruce Welge Award is presented annually to a Clio area student in honor and memory of the life and friendship of Bruce Welge, classmate at The Citadel of D. G. McIntyre originally of Clio. Bruce would visit the McIntyre home and Trinity Methodist Church.He was assigned to the Green Berets of Fort Bragg and was killed in Vietnam.
His parents of Chester, Illinois started the memorial fund to honor Bruce’s love of the McIntyre family and Clio.
The guest speaker was John C. Atkinson, Major General, Retired of Lumberton, NC. He studied at The Citadel and entered the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant. He served in the 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas; the 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam, the 82nd Airborne Division; and the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg.
Major General Atkinson joined the N.C. National Guard and moved through the ranks, he was promoted to Major General and assigned as Deputy Commander of the 1st U.S. Army at Fort Gilliam, Georgia. He retired after 36 years of service and after retirement taught at Eastern Carolina University and Robeson Community College.