Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence Stebleton

First West Point Graduate from Canal Winchester

Lawrence Stebleton, a 1949 graduate of Canal Winchester Schools, overcame a congenital birth defect of bilateral club feet to become the first West Point Graduate from Canal Winchester. LTC Stebleton retired after 20 years of service in the United States Air Force as navigator with 5000 flight hours, serving as a guided missile crew member and a staff development engineer. He served during the Viet Nam War.

Lawrence also studied at Otterbein College and The Ohio State University. He received his bachelor's degree from West Point, and master's degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the University of Nebraska. After retiring from military service, he was an instructor at the University of New Mexico.

Mr. Stebleton was a water safety instructor with the Red Cross with 5000 hours. He enjoyed singing with local musical groups performing opera and light opera and as a soloist at church.

Lawrence remembered attending many movies at Wagnalls during the 1940's and performances at the Farmer's Institute. He proudly remembered that his mother attended The Wagnalls Memorial dedication on Memorial Day 1925.