Former U.S. Official, Winston-Salem Native Togo West Dies

A Triad native who became the second African-American to serve as Army secretary has died.

Togo Dennis West Jr. was born in 1942 and grew up in Winston-Salem, where he attended Atkins High School. He later moved to Washington, D.C. After graduating at top of his Howard University law school class, he joined the Army and earned several military honors.

West would go on to work in the presidential administrations of Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton.

The 1990s were a tumultuous time for West as Secretary of the Army. He oversaw the controversial “don't ask, don't tell” policy, budget cuts, and investigations of sexual abuse in the ranks.

He also ran the Department of Veterans Affairs during a storm of accusations of mismanagement and budget battles, and he eventually resigned.

Still, his efforts to increase opportunities for women in the military drew praise from Capitol Hill, and President Bill Clinton lauded him for confronting tough issues head-on.

Togo West died Thursday, March 8th. He was 75.