Mercer University alumnus retired Lt. Gen. Claude M. “Mick” Kicklighter had a career spanning more than 50 years of public service, including 35 years in the Army. In 2023, the home of Mercer’s ROTC program was named after him. Here’s how he became a Mercer Legend.
Claude M. “Mick” Kicklighter
Mercer connection: Alumnus and donor
Years at Mercer: Graduated in 1955
What he did: Born and raised in Glennville, Kicklighter graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology from Mercer’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 1955. While at the University, he was active in the Army ROTC and a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He also joined the U.S. Army Reserve, attaining the rank of sergeant before he graduated and earned his commission as a second lieutenant.
Kicklighter served the United States as an Army officer for more than 35 years, with overseas tours in France, Germany, Iran, the Netherlands and Vietnam. He commanded units at every level from platoon to Army division. His last assignment on active duty was commanding general of the U.S. Army Pacific.
Since his retirement from active duty in 1991, Kicklighter has held several senior government positions, including assistant secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs from 2001-2005 and inspector general for the Department of Defense from 2007-2008.
Kicklighter has served as director of the George Mason University School of Law’s Critical Infrastructure Protection Program. He is a recipient of the Presidential Citizen Medal and a two-time recipient of the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.
In addition to his Mercer degree, Kicklighter holds a master’s degree from George Washington University. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Why he’s a legend: Throughout his career, Kicklighter has remained connected to Mercer. In 2011, Kicklighter received the Mercer University Distinguished Alumnus Award. He has served two terms on the Mercer Board of Trustees and serves as co-director of Mercer’s Center for Leadership, Ethics and Service.
He is a staunch supporter of Mercer’s ROTC and has credited the training he received in the program with setting the foundation for his military accomplishments.
In 2023, Penfield Annex, home to Mercer’s ROTC program, was renamed Kicklighter Hall in his honor. The surrounding area was named Freedom Plaza and includes the Bill of Rights Eagle statue.
“Most of the people that lose their lives (in war) … are only 19 or 20 years old. And when you’re only 19 or 20 years old, and you give all your tomorrows, that is a very high price to pay,” Kicklighter said at the dedication in November. “And that’s what Freedom Plaza says: That freedom is not free. And it’s here that we must preserve it. We must defend it, and we must pass it on to the next generation.”
Kicklighter and wife Betty Exley Kicklighter, whom he met at Mercer, will be inducted as Life Members of The President’s Club in 2024.
Quotable: “When the Department of Defense needed a man of integrity and unquestionable honesty, (Kicklighter) was at the top of the list — a proven soldier, statesman and gentleman.” — Retired Col. Kevin T. Hanretta told The Mercerian in Fall 2008
Mercer Legends is a series that highlights iconic figures who left a lasting impact on the University and its faculty, staff and students, as well as the community.
