Very sad day: Capt. Zeb Alford passes away

Onkel Neal · 08-05-09, 11:55 AM

I cannot tell you how much he will be missed. Capt. Zeb was a fine man, he served as a Captain of two subs in the US Navy. He was a founder and catalyst for the Cavalla restoration. He was one of the first Cavalla men I interviewed in 1997 and he was the guest speaker at the 2004 Subsim Meet in Galveston. Most of all, he was my friend.

Salute. Zeb, you will be missed.

Neal

Zeb D. Alford

Zeb was born in McComb, Mississippi, in 1925. After graduating from McComb High School in January 1943, he joined the Navy the next day and attended LSU for one semester. He started his Navy career as a seaman apprentice in the V-12program at Tulane University on July1, 1943, and entered the Naval Academy in 1944.

After graduation inl947, he served as an Ensign aboard USS Charles R. Ware, an Atlantic Fleet destroyer. After graduation from Submarine School in 1949, he served aboard three diesel submarines and three nuclear submarines.

Zeb joined the nuclear Navy in 1958when selected by Admiral Rickover, the father of the nuclear Navy. After nuclear school, his first nuclear assignment, as Executive Officer, was building and commissioning a new nuclear prototype in Connecticut. He was Executive Officer and commissioned the first nuclear submarine designed to find and kill other nuclear submarines, USS Tullibee. Every new class of nuclear attack submarines built since then has included updated versions of the active and passive sonar systems and the sound quieting methods of Tullibee. He attended Charm School (Admiral Rickover’s staff) for six months; then, as a Lieutenant Commander, here reported in 1962 as Commanding Officer of the nuclear attack submarine USS Shark. Shark was the first class of single screw, whale-shaped, high-speed, nuclear submarines. She was the fastest submarine ever built at that time.
As a Navy Commander in 1965, he became the Commanding Officer of the Polaris nuclear submarine USS Sam Houston. He became Executive Assistant to the Undersecretary of the Navy (now Senator John Warner[R-Va.]).

Zeb attended the National War College in 1970-71 and reported as Commanding Officer, Guantanamo Bay Naval Station, Cuba, in 1971.

Zeb retired from the Navy in September 1973.Zeb’s second career has been in energy. Since entering this field he has become President of three different energy companies. In 1984 Zeb married Joan Chasan of Houston, Texas, and Long Island, New York. He has four grown daughters from a previous marriage.

In 1985 he started a new company, Dolphin Energy, Inc., and began to market natural gas to major utilities on both coasts.

Zeb was active in tennis, the Navy League, the Naval Academy Alumni Association, the Naval Order, and the Republican Party. He was elected a delegate to the state party conventions in 1996, 2000, and 2004. He was elected a member of the Texas Electoral College that met in Austin, Texas, in December1996.

In 1999 Zeb became Chairman of the Cavalla Historical Foundation, which raised money to restore the WW-II submarine USS Cavalla (SSK 244) and theDE-238 USS Stewart, both located at SEAWOLF PARK, Galveston Bay, Texas. Today they both have been restored and are open to the public for visits.

Tuesday evening, Aug 4, Capt. Zeb passed away after he suffered a heart attack Sunday evening and hitting his head on the tennis court.

Zeb had just returned from attending the Change of Command of the USS TEXAS and delivering the eulogy at Dave Hinkles (Sonalysts forunder) funeral. Zeb and Dave had served together on Cavalla SSK. Zeb also served as aid to Warner and Lehman. He remained an active and cheerful individual frequently speaking about Submarines, keeping up to date on Submarine technology and when he spoke, he always pointed out that the true Capital Ship of the U.S. Navy was the submarine, not some target.

Together We Served link

Zeb and Patti Alford

Vacation of the Virgin Islands

Daughters and grandaughter

Patti and Zeb aboard USS Cavalla, Seawolf Park

Joan and Zeb's wedding day

2004 Cavalla Reunion

Capt. Zeb presents a plaque made from the deck to longtime Cavalla supporter, George Strake
Also pictured (left to right): Neal Stevens, Gil Raynor, Ron Smith

At the 2000 Cavalla reunion
Zeb Alford, Zeke Zellmer, & Bill Friedman

L-R: Zeb Alford, _ _ _, Zeke Zellmer, Ruth Rankin, Jim Rankin, Beverly Friedman, Bill Friedman

Capt. Zeb was the guest speaker at the 2004 Subsim Meet
in Seawolf Park. Also pictured, Cavalla curator Chief John McMichael

Capt. Zeb viewing submarine simulations for the computer.
Also pictured, Enigma producer Kelly Asay and Rebel.

FIREWALL · 08-05-09, 11:59 AM

Gone but, Not Forgotten.

SteamWake · 08-05-09, 12:01 PM

Thank his familiy for his service !

Rest In Peace.

08-05-09, 12:01 PM

I didn't know the man, but if he touched as many people as he did Neal, he will be missed. God's speed Zeb Alford.

AVGWarhawk · 08-05-09, 12:06 PM

Thanks for the service to country and to keeping boats like Cavalla as a living memorial to all who served.

Rest in peace.

ReallyDedPoet · 08-05-09, 12:07 PM

R.I.P.

HunterICX · 08-05-09, 12:27 PM

May he rest in peace

HunterICX

Sailor Steve · 08-05-09, 12:29 PM

That is really sad. Now I'm doubly grateful that I got to sit next to the man and swap stories with him in Houston.

Oberon · 08-05-09, 12:30 PM

RIP sir.

InHonor · 08-06-09, 11:30 AM

Captain and friend Zeb, we will miss you, your smiling face, your commanding personality, your wit, and most of all the pleasure of your company.
Rest in peace, good friend.

Sailor Steve · 08-06-09, 11:34 AM

InHonor, WELCOME ABOARD!

You sound as if you knew the Captain fairly well. If so, please share some stories with us. I only got to meet him for an hour or so, and wished even then that it could have been more.

Baby Katie · 08-06-09, 11:52 AM

I am Baby Katie- the youngest of Zeb's 4 daughters. I followed Zeb into the military and was a Major in the Air Force. I figured since he had all girls, one of us better follow suit. So when I became a Captain in the Air Force it was fun for us to salute each other and say "Hello Captain"
Dad was such a great Dad - so generous, so kind to so many people, so patient with all his girls and loved all our pets we filled the house up with.
I always learned my leadership traits from Dad, as he always said "If you have a problem go to the Head of the Company" - He will be missed with all his long winded stories of the Navy and how he was in charge of feeding the "Swans" on the huge pond where he lives.
I love you so much Dad,
Baby Katie

DeerHunter UK · 08-06-09, 12:38 PM

It was my privilege and honour to meet your Dad at the Subsim meeting in 2004. My sincere condolences to you and your family.

peggy · 08-06-09, 01:08 PM

Hello everyone,

I'm Peggy, the 2nd daughter. How wonderful to see your comments... they help us girls as we go through this time, now without our daddy. I have peace in knowing Dad died playing tennis, something he loved. But I have complete peace in knowing he had a relationship with Jesus Christ, his Lord and Saviour. We will all grieve losing him, but I rejoice knowing he is in Heaven, and I will see him again.

Dad couldn't have a conversation without weaving a Navy story through it. I would sometimes trick him and pick the farthest topic from the Navy, but I always failed. He managed it every time. Now it will be something that will make me chuckle, but many times I wanted to kick his butt about that. Dad was not a man of prejudice, and I respected him for that. He accepted whoever we brought home to meet him, and always said, "If you like them, then I like them." I loved talking world situations with Dad, and the state of this great nation. We could go on and on about that...I will miss those conversations dearly. He would sign off to each of us by saying, Love you baby. I loved hearing that on my answering machine if I were not at home.

We will miss our Dad. He was not a perfect man, but none of us are. Our imperfections become part of our personalities, and believe me, dad had a great, uplifitng personality. He has given us memories that we will laugh about forever.

I salute all of you who also served our country...I thank you for that. Dad was a true Patriot and he loved God, his family, and his country. We will miss you Dad and your memory will be kept alive. Love you baby! Peggy

patti · 08-06-09, 08:21 PM

What an amazing tribute to our Dad this site has become. Once again it is great to go in and see what is being said about my Dad. We are trying to get a date for the Memorial Service and hopefully we will have that very soon so people can start making travel plans.
I will keep you posted..
Patti

08-05-09, 11:55 AM	#1
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,284 Downloads: 534 Uploads: 224	Very sad day: Capt. Zeb Alford passes away I cannot tell you how much he will be missed. Capt. Zeb was a fine man, he served as a Captain of two subs in the US Navy. He was a founder and catalyst for the Cavalla restoration. He was one of the first Cavalla men I interviewed in 1997 and he was the guest speaker at the 2004 Subsim Meet in Galveston. Most of all, he was my friend. Salute. Zeb, you will be missed. Neal Zeb D. Alford Zeb was born in McComb, Mississippi, in 1925. After graduating from McComb High School in January 1943, he joined the Navy the next day and attended LSU for one semester. He started his Navy career as a seaman apprentice in the V-12program at Tulane University on July1, 1943, and entered the Naval Academy in 1944. After graduation inl947, he served as an Ensign aboard USS Charles R. Ware, an Atlantic Fleet destroyer. After graduation from Submarine School in 1949, he served aboard three diesel submarines and three nuclear submarines. Zeb joined the nuclear Navy in 1958when selected by Admiral Rickover, the father of the nuclear Navy. After nuclear school, his first nuclear assignment, as Executive Officer, was building and commissioning a new nuclear prototype in Connecticut. He was Executive Officer and commissioned the first nuclear submarine designed to find and kill other nuclear submarines, USS Tullibee. Every new class of nuclear attack submarines built since then has included updated versions of the active and passive sonar systems and the sound quieting methods of Tullibee. He attended Charm School (Admiral Rickover’s staff) for six months; then, as a Lieutenant Commander, here reported in 1962 as Commanding Officer of the nuclear attack submarine USS Shark. Shark was the first class of single screw, whale-shaped, high-speed, nuclear submarines. She was the fastest submarine ever built at that time. As a Navy Commander in 1965, he became the Commanding Officer of the Polaris nuclear submarine USS Sam Houston. He became Executive Assistant to the Undersecretary of the Navy (now Senator John Warner[R-Va.]). Zeb attended the National War College in 1970-71 and reported as Commanding Officer, Guantanamo Bay Naval Station, Cuba, in 1971. Zeb retired from the Navy in September 1973.Zeb’s second career has been in energy. Since entering this field he has become President of three different energy companies. In 1984 Zeb married Joan Chasan of Houston, Texas, and Long Island, New York. He has four grown daughters from a previous marriage. In 1985 he started a new company, Dolphin Energy, Inc., and began to market natural gas to major utilities on both coasts. Zeb was active in tennis, the Navy League, the Naval Academy Alumni Association, the Naval Order, and the Republican Party. He was elected a delegate to the state party conventions in 1996, 2000, and 2004. He was elected a member of the Texas Electoral College that met in Austin, Texas, in December1996. In 1999 Zeb became Chairman of the Cavalla Historical Foundation, which raised money to restore the WW-II submarine USS Cavalla (SSK 244) and theDE-238 USS Stewart, both located at SEAWOLF PARK, Galveston Bay, Texas. Today they both have been restored and are open to the public for visits. Tuesday evening, Aug 4, Capt. Zeb passed away after he suffered a heart attack Sunday evening and hitting his head on the tennis court. Zeb had just returned from attending the Change of Command of the USS TEXAS and delivering the eulogy at Dave Hinkles (Sonalysts forunder) funeral. Zeb and Dave had served together on Cavalla SSK. Zeb also served as aid to Warner and Lehman. He remained an active and cheerful individual frequently speaking about Submarines, keeping up to date on Submarine technology and when he spoke, he always pointed out that the true Capital Ship of the U.S. Navy was the submarine, not some target. Together We Served link Zeb and Patti Alford Vacation of the Virgin Islands Daughters and grandaughter Patti and Zeb aboard USS Cavalla, Seawolf Park Joan and Zeb's wedding day 2004 Cavalla Reunion Capt. Zeb presents a plaque made from the deck to longtime Cavalla supporter, George Strake Also pictured (left to right): Neal Stevens, Gil Raynor, Ron Smith At the 2000 Cavalla reunion Zeb Alford, Zeke Zellmer, & Bill Friedman L-R: Zeb Alford, _ _ _, Zeke Zellmer, Ruth Rankin, Jim Rankin, Beverly Friedman, Bill Friedman Capt. Zeb was the guest speaker at the 2004 Subsim Meet in Seawolf Park. Also pictured, Cavalla curator Chief John McMichael Capt. Zeb viewing submarine simulations for the computer. Also pictured, Enigma producer Kelly Asay and Rebel. __________________ SUBSIM - 26 Years on the Web Last edited by Onkel Neal; 08-20-09 at 04:40 PM. Reason: added info, pictures

08-05-09, 11:59 AM	#2
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	Gone but, Not Forgotten. __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

08-05-09, 12:01 PM	#3
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Thank his familiy for his service ! Rest In Peace. __________________ Follow the progress of Mr. Mulligan : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=147648

08-05-09, 12:07 PM	#6
ReallyDedPoet Canadian Wolf Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The one and only East Coast Posts: 10,775 Downloads: 946 Uploads: 5	R.I.P. __________________ Back in the Day

08-05-09, 12:27 PM	#7
HunterICX Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2006 Location: Malaga, España Posts: 10,750 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	May he rest in peace HunterICX __________________

08-05-09, 12:01 PM	#4
CastleBravo Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	I didn't know the man, but if he touched as many people as he did Neal, he will be missed. God's speed Zeb Alford.

08-05-09, 12:06 PM	#5
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 27,343 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the service to country and to keeping boats like Cavalla as a living memorial to all who served. Rest in peace.

08-05-09, 12:29 PM	#8
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	That is really sad. Now I'm doubly grateful that I got to sit next to the man and swap stories with him in Houston. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

08-05-09, 12:30 PM	#9
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	RIP sir.

08-06-09, 11:30 AM	#10
InHonor Bilge Rat Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	RIP Captain and friend Zeb, we will miss you, your smiling face, your commanding personality, your wit, and most of all the pleasure of your company. Rest in peace, good friend.

08-06-09, 11:34 AM	#11
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	InHonor, WELCOME ABOARD! You sound as if you knew the Captain fairly well. If so, please share some stories with us. I only got to meet him for an hour or so, and wished even then that it could have been more. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

08-06-09, 11:52 AM	#12
Baby Katie VIP Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 12 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Good-Bye Daddy I am Baby Katie- the youngest of Zeb's 4 daughters. I followed Zeb into the military and was a Major in the Air Force. I figured since he had all girls, one of us better follow suit. So when I became a Captain in the Air Force it was fun for us to salute each other and say "Hello Captain" Dad was such a great Dad - so generous, so kind to so many people, so patient with all his girls and loved all our pets we filled the house up with. I always learned my leadership traits from Dad, as he always said "If you have a problem go to the Head of the Company" - He will be missed with all his long winded stories of the Navy and how he was in charge of feeding the "Swans" on the huge pond where he lives. I love you so much Dad, Baby Katie

08-06-09, 12:38 PM	#13
DeerHunter UK Machinist's Mate Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 124 Downloads: 56 Uploads: 0	It was my privilege and honour to meet your Dad at the Subsim meeting in 2004. My sincere condolences to you and your family.

08-06-09, 01:08 PM	#14
peggy VIP Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 8 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	See you in Heaven Hello everyone, I'm Peggy, the 2nd daughter. How wonderful to see your comments... they help us girls as we go through this time, now without our daddy. I have peace in knowing Dad died playing tennis, something he loved. But I have complete peace in knowing he had a relationship with Jesus Christ, his Lord and Saviour. We will all grieve losing him, but I rejoice knowing he is in Heaven, and I will see him again. Dad couldn't have a conversation without weaving a Navy story through it. I would sometimes trick him and pick the farthest topic from the Navy, but I always failed. He managed it every time. Now it will be something that will make me chuckle, but many times I wanted to kick his butt about that. Dad was not a man of prejudice, and I respected him for that. He accepted whoever we brought home to meet him, and always said, "If you like them, then I like them." I loved talking world situations with Dad, and the state of this great nation. We could go on and on about that...I will miss those conversations dearly. He would sign off to each of us by saying, Love you baby. I loved hearing that on my answering machine if I were not at home. We will miss our Dad. He was not a perfect man, but none of us are. Our imperfections become part of our personalities, and believe me, dad had a great, uplifitng personality. He has given us memories that we will laugh about forever. I salute all of you who also served our country...I thank you for that. Dad was a true Patriot and he loved God, his family, and his country. We will miss you Dad and your memory will be kept alive. Love you baby! Peggy

08-06-09, 08:21 PM	#15
patti VIP Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: El Paso Posts: 28 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	patti What an amazing tribute to our Dad this site has become. Once again it is great to go in and see what is being said about my Dad. We are trying to get a date for the Memorial Service and hopefully we will have that very soon so people can start making travel plans. I will keep you posted.. Patti