William J. Ely

William Jonas Ely, Jr. (born December 29, 1911) is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Army.

He is a 1933 graduate of the United States Military Academy (West Point). He served during World War II with the United States Army, and was stationed in Australia, New Guinea, Philippine Islands and Japan. He also served with the United States Army Corps of Engineers in the 1930s, in the Midway Islands. He eventually retired at the rank of lieutenant (3 star) general. He is a former Deputy Commanding General of the Army Development & Logistic Command and Deputy Commander of the U.S. Army Materiel Command. He was born in Sycamore, Pennsylvania, the son of J. Ross and Frances D. Ely. His awards include the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Bronze Star, and two Legions of Merit. After his retirement, Ely was an avid golfer, and designed and operated a golf course near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He gave up golf when he turned 100 in 2011. As of 2015, he is the oldest living graduate of West Point. Ely was married to Helen Mountford from February 10, 1940 to March 25, 2014, when she died at the age of 100. He resides at a nursing home in Delray Beach, Florida.