William Callaway '11
Date of birth: November 7, 1889
Date of death: December 17, 1927
Age: 38
Lucky Bag
From the 1911 Lucky Bag:
William Franklin Callaway
Clinton, Missouri
"Deadwood Dick" "Devil" "Dick"
DICK is one of the quiet men of the class, who steadily makes good without much furor. One of the Acey-Deucey sharps of Cruise days, and a member of the notorious Second Deck Ironclads. He rhinoes on occasions, but merely for the fun of it, which few of us can say. He has a fetching grin of his own design, and makes good but quiet company. He is modest and rather too diffident for either a savoir or a fusser, though he has attempted the latter several times during his career. He loves a rough-house, as a good many quiet men do, and when "Bright Eyes" and "Alf" join him there is usually something happening. He roomed with Hyman for the first two years, until that little hazing incident occurred. Doesn't know what it is not to be worried over his eyes, and has a chronic dread of physical exams.
William Franklin Callaway was born in Clinton, Missouri, November 7, 1889. Before entering the Naval Academy he spent nearly three years at the Clinton High School.
Loss
William (on left) while in command of submarine USS G-4, 1917.
William was lost on December 17, 1927 when USS S-4 (SS 109) sank immediately following a collision with USCG Paulding (CG 17) near Cape Code, Massachusetts. He was aboard as an observer of the Bureau of Construction and Repair.
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Memorial Hall Error
William's headstone has his rank as LCDR; Memorial Hall has CDR. Unable to find evidence of a posthumous promotion. He is listed in the Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps of 1927 — and the 1928 edition, which also has his death date — as a LCDR.
Related Articles
Roy Jones '16, Joseph McGinley '21, Graham Fitch '23, and Donald Weller '23 were also lost when S-4 sank.
Class of 1911
William is one of 15 members of the Class of 1911 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
