Past Polemarchs
Past Polemarch Rufus F. Clanzy
Lieutenant Colonel Rufus Franklin Clanzy, U.S Army (Retired), 83, was born July 4, 1937 to the late Albert Clanzy and Mary Little, in Dozier, Alabama. He departed this life on Sunday, June 6, 2021 at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after a short illness.
He was educated in the Alabama public school system and would later attend Tuskegee University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Teacher Education. He furthered his education at the Florida Institute of Technology earning a Master of Science in Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management. Additionally, he is an honor graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
While attending Tuskegee University, he met the love of his life, the former Doris Lavender. After graduation they were married and to this union three children were born: Gregory, Vincent (deceased) and Susan. After living in several countries and returning to the states, they chose to make their home and raise their children in Columbia, Maryland, where they have resided for 50 years. Lt. Col. Clanzy joined the First Baptist Church of Guilford upon moving to Columbia and had served as a deacon for over three decades ministering to the needs of the members.
In addition to his service with the church, Lt. Col. Clanzy served the community as a 50 year member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. He served as the 22 nd Eastern Province Polemarch; the Columbia, MD Alumni Chapter Polemarch as well as several other offices in the local chapter.
Lt. Col. Clanzy spent over 28 years in the Army before retiring from the Inspector General’s Office, investigating complaints filed at Army bases across 13 states. After retiring from the armed services, Lt. Col. Clanzy spent over two years as a Logistics Consultant at the Headquarters of the Department of the Army. In 1993, Lt. Col. Clanzy was appointed as the Howard County, Director of the Office of Human Rights by then Howard County Executive, Charles Ecker. He served in that capacity until his appointment as the Howard County, Director of General Services, where he served until his retirement in 2007.
Lt. Col. Clanzy enjoyed traveling the world with this wife and family. Upon retirement, he and his wife traveled the United States RVing in their Bus, attending football games, tailgating, enjoying fishing, camping and visiting with family and friends. He leaves to mourn his wife of 60 years, Doris; son, Gregory L. Clanzy: daughter, Dr. Susan R. Clanzy, M.D.; daughter-in-law, Natalie M. Clanzy; grand children, Vincent, II; Veronica and Victor; sister-in-law, Myrtice Lavender and brother-in-law, Herbert L. Lavender(Essie) and a host of relatives and friends.
