LEXINGTON, Va. April 23, 2024 — The late G. Gilmer “Gil” Minor III ’63, will be awarded posthumously, the New Market Medal, Virginia Military Institute’s highest honor, during the annual Memorial Parade, Wednesday, May 15 at 2 p.m. on post. Minor is only the 17th recipient of the award since its introduction in 1962. His widow, Charlotte will be present, and his son, Gilmer Minor IV ’93, will accept the award on his behalf.

Minor, who passed away last May at the age of 82, graduated from VMI with a degree in history and went on to receive a master’s in business administration from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. His service to VMI was wide-ranging. Besides a term on the Keydet Club’s Board of Governors, he was a member of the VMI Foundation’s Board of Trustees from 1993 to 2000 and served as its president from 1997 to 2000. In 2000, he became a member of the Board of Visitors and, from 2005 through 2008, served as president.

He was a recipient of the VMI Distinguished Service Award on Founders Day 2008. He also received the Spirit of VMI Award, the VMI Keydet Club’s highest honor recognizing outstanding support of VMI’s intercollegiate athletic programs. He was inducted as a member of the VMI Sports Hall of Fame in 2011. While a cadet, he was co-captain of the football team that won the 1962 Southern Conference Championship. He was also co-captain of the baseball team and named All-Southern Conference as a catcher.

Gray-Minor Baseball Stadium was dedicated in the spring of 2007 at the first night home game in VMI history. The facility’s extensive renovations, including lights, stadium seating, scoreboard, covered batting practice area, press box, and new sound system, were made possible by the generosity of Minor, along with Sen. Elmon T. Gray ’46. 

Minor was a leader in Virginia business. He joined the family business, Owens & Minor, a health care distribution and logistics company, in 1963 and served in numerous sales, management, and operations roles before becoming its president in 1981, its chief executive officer in 1984, and in May 1994, chairman. 

Minor was active in many civic, charitable, and industry organizations including the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, Virginia Health Care Foundation, the University of Virginia’s School of Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Cancer Center, VCU’s School of Business Foundation, Virginia Business Higher Education Council, and Virginia Business Council.

Like all parades on post, the Memorial Parade is open to the public. Minor’s brother rats, and friends of the Minor family are especially welcomed to attend.

Marianne Hause
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE