May 1, 2008
UT Martin alumnus inducted into ROTC Hall of Fame
MARTIN, Tenn . - Major General James R. Sholar, formerly of Stewart County, and commander, 88th Regional Support Command, recently was inducted into the University of Tennessee at Martin ROTC Hall of Fame.
“It is always such an honor and a privilege to induct our superior Skyhawk Battalion alumni,” said Lt. Col Janet Kirkton, professor of military science. “Major General Sholar and his wife, Linda, were absolutely an inspiration to cadets and cadre alike, as they graciously gave of their time and shared candidly about their 37 years of Army service to the nation.”
The 88th RSC comprises a 19-state region in north central and north west United States. He is dual hatted as senior mission commander, Ft. McCoy, Wis. The 88th RSC provides base support operations for more than 50,000 soldiers and 550 units.
Sholar was commissioned as a second lieutenant, field artillery, through ROTC in 1971 at UT Martin. He has served continuously for 37 years as a commissioned officer in the United States Army and Army Reserve.
Sholar began his active military career at Fort Sill, Okla., and subsequently served at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. Following a tour on active duty, he joined the Army Reserve with the 95th Division (training) in 1975 and has served in a wide range of staff and command positions since that time. He has commanded at the company, battalion and brigade levels, and twice at the two-star level. Military duties have taken him to France, Germany, Kosovo, Guatemala, El Salvador, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq and Afghanistan.
He is a graduate of the Field Artillery Officer Basic and Advance Courses, Command and General Staff Officer College, and the U.S. Army War College. Among his awards are the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Meritorious Service Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster.
Sholar earned a bachelor’s degree from UT Martin and holds master’s and doctoral degrees from Oklahoma State University. He spent almost 30 years as an Oklahoma State University professor of agronomy and extension agronomist. His work has been recognized at state and national levels. He did international consulting work in China and several European countries.
He has been back on duty with the Army for most of the last five years.
His wife, Linda, received a bachelor’s degree from UT Martin and master’s degree from Oklahoma State University. She is a nationally board certified teacher in the Stillwater, Okla., public schools and serves as chair of the Oklahoma Commission on Teacher Preparation.
They have two children, a son-in-law, and four grandchildren. When not at Ft. McCoy or somewhere in his 19-state region of responsibility, Sholar and his wife make their home in Stillwater, Okla.
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