Jerry Rex Rutherford retired as a

Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...

in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

, where he served as Commander of

V Corps 5th Corps, Fifth Corps, or V Corps may refer to: France * 5th Army Corps (France) * V Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars * V Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French Arm ...

Early life

Jerry Rutherford is a native of

Joplin, Missouri Joplin is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, Jasper and Newton County, Missouri, Newton counties in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Missouri. The bulk of the city is in Jasper County, while the southern portion is in Newton County. J ...

. He graduated from

Pittsburg State University Pittsburg State University (Pitt State or PSU) is a public university in Pittsburg, Kansas, United States. It enrolls approximately 7,400 students (6,000 undergraduates and 1,400 graduate students) and is a member of the Kansas Board of Regen ...

in 1962 with a BA in Journalism. While at Pittsburg State, Rutherford also joined

Tau Kappa Epsilon Tau Kappa Epsilon (), commonly known as or Teke, is a social college fraternities and sororities, fraternity founded on January 10, 1899, at Illinois Wesleyan University. The organization has chapters throughout the United States and Canada, maki ...

Military career

After graduation, Rutherford was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. Rutherford was promoted to brigadier general in 1988, while serving as assistant division commander of the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) at

Fort Riley, Kansas Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in North Central Kansas, on the Kansas River, also known as the Kaw, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 101,733 acres (41,170 ha) in Ge ...

. From 1989 to 1991 he served as commander of the 2d Armored Division (Forward) of the United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany. In 1991 he served as assistant division commander (support) of 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) in Saudi Arabia during

Operation Desert Storm Operation or Operations may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * ''Operation'' (game), a battery-operated board game that challenges dexterity * Operation (music), a term used in musical set theory * ''Operations'' (magazine), Multi-Man ...

. Rutherford was promoted to major general in September 1991, and at that time he served as commanding general of the 3d Armored Division, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany. In 1992 he took on the role of deputy commander of V Corps, and in July 1992 he was promoted to lieutenant general and commander of V Corps. Rutherford retired in May 1995. While commander of V Corps, LTG Rutherford was considered by his subordinates to be thorough, fair and considerate. LTG Rutherford was known for his compassion and his propensity to procure a better life for the common soldier. LTG Rutherford worked tirelessly to ensure that his soldiers and their families were prepared for any eventuality. LTG Rutherford always considered his troops to be the best on the planet, and he would never let them forget his expectations. He always called his troops his "Tigers".

Post Military Career

After retiring from the U.S. Army, Rutherford served as Vice President of Right Management, a talent and career management solutions provider, from 1996 to 1998. He currently Chief Operating Officer at Spencer Fane Britt & Browne LLP law firm in

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri, abbreviated KC or KCMO, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri by List of cities in Missouri, population and area. The city lies within Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson, Clay County, Missouri, Clay, and Pl ...

. Rutherford serves on the Board of Governors for the

Liberty Memorial The National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri was opened in 1926 as the Liberty Memorial. In 2004, it was designated by the United States Congress as the country's official war memorial and museum dedicated to World Wa ...

Association and on the executive committee for expansion of the

National World War I Museum The National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri was opened in 1926 as the Liberty Memorial. In 2004, it was designated by the United States Congress as the country's official war memorial and museum dedicated to World Wa ...

at Liberty Memorial.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rutherford, Jerry R Living people People from Joplin, Missouri United States Army generals Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) Knights Commander of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Year of birth missing (living people)