ACKER, Guilford Dudley, Jr.

Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, AZ Friday, July 01, 2011 Guilford Dudley Acker Jr., 63, of Flagstaff, died June 12 following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born Oct. 1, 1947, in Providence, Rhode Island, to Captain Guilford Dudley Acker, USN, and Lorraine Dawson Graham Acker. As the son of a Naval Officer, Dudley moved frequently and went to many different schools. His favorites were in London, Guantanamo Bay, and McLean, Virginia. He attended boarding school his last two years of high school, graduating from St. James School in St. James, Maryland. Dudley began his college career at the University of Virginia and left to join the U.S.Marines in 1967. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant from Officer Candidate School on July 1, 1968, and served as platoon leader in Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, in Vietnam. He was wounded on July 9, 1969, and retired with the rank of First Lieutenant. Despite severe wounds and numerous surgeries, Dudley never looked back. He graduated from The American University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1974 and from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1977. He practiced law for seven years in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Becoming disenchanted with law and lawyers, Dudley headed West, looking for a ‘real western town.' He settled in Flagstaff in 1983 and returned to academia at Northern Arizona University completing a Master of Arts degree in 1985 and a Doctor of Philosophy in American West History in 1995, writing a superlative dissertation on General George R. Crook which he had hopes of publishing as a novel. He subsequently served as Adjunct Professor of History for several years in the NAU Department of History. Dudley loved teaching at NAU where he shared his keen mind, extraordinary memory, noteworthy wit, and spectacular sense of humor. Although he possessed an enormous intellect, Dudley did not always receive the best marks in school. As a youngster at the Eaton House Preparatory School for Boys in London, for example, he received the unique grade of "Disgraceful!" in Religious Studies. He had skipped Scripture class to go to study hall to prepare for his Latin class. He was caned and his father went to have a talk with the Headmaster - the details of which Dudley enjoyed retelling. Dudley was a diehard Arizona Diamondbacks fan. He had a great time at Cliff Castle Casino, on occasion, and was described as a ‘confirmed, hardened, incorrigible, addicted, habitual, and compulsive collector and vendor' of historical memorabilia---specializing in Teddy Roosevelt, Prohibition, American Indians, bears, and nostalgic black & white photographs of women. It gave him great pleasure to share the history of the items he collected and his narratives were usually sprinkled with obscure facts and amusing anecdotes. He loved his family, his friends, and his dogs Frank & Gorgeous. Dudley was a lifelong Marine and remained intensely loyal to the Corps. He was awarded numerous ribbons, to include the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with Valor for wounds received in combat against the enemy. He is survived by his sister Lorrie Walker and brother-in-law Steve Walker of Monkton, Maryland, cousins Graham Hudgins of Virginia and Thom Hudgins of Georgia, and devoted Marine brother Edward Pennell. A ‘Celebration of Dudley's Life' will be held at his home. Call 928 774 7924 for information. Interment will be in Mossy Creek, Va.