Roger is the Human Resource Assistant with UVM ROTC and was one of the people who responded to our invitation to learn more about the ‘24 Then and Now project and to talk about his ancestors and the family’s connections to UVM. His grandfather Max and great-uncle Alan were on campus on the 1920s. Here are a few of the things he shared in our July 2024 conversation. 

Alumni Relatives

In addition to grandfather Max Drury 1920 (or at least our records indicate he was part of the Class of 1920, though Roger says that the family doesn’t think he ended up graduating), other Catamounts from the Drury family include: 

• Roger’s father Dr. Robert W. Drury ’60,

• His mother Phyllis Tylar Drury ’60, who was the first in her family to attend college 

• Great-uncles Alan Lawrence Drury 1921 (though Roger says the family is “90% sure he was invited to leave” before graduating) and Edwin Drury (“graduated, probably”).

• Aunt Betsy Gillinder Drury ’46,who was married to Roger’s father’s brother John (who himself went to Dartmouth 

• Godfather Dr. Roger Amidon '60

Part of the Physical Campus

Roger shared that not very long after returning to campus, Max was asked to leave UVM by his dad so that he could help with bookkeeping at the family business, the Drury Brickyard in Essex.  

That brickyard has been providing construction materials to the area since the mid-to-late 1800s. Records state that the Drury Brickyard provided the materials for Ira Allen Chapel and other campus buildings. On the day of our conversation, Roger mused that the bricks that form the exterior of Adams House, where he now works look like those fired at the family’s business. 

A Family With Strong Military Connections

Roger’s father Robert was also in UVM ROTC, commissioned in 1960, and staying in until 1962 or ‘63, Roger recalls. His uncle John was a Navy pilot, and it looks to the family that a great, great cousin served in the Civil War 

Roger said, “My grandfather trained for World War I, right around the time he was at UVM. But the war ended right about the time he would have served, and so they sent him home and said, “Hey, we don't need more soldiers. Go back to your life.” 

For some, this would have been a relief. But members of the Drury family took the honor of military service seriously, and so for Max it was something of a disappointment, according to family lore. 

How About Your Historical UVM Connections?

The '24 Then and Now project has piqued our team's interest in multigenerational Catamount families in a whole new way. If you have someone who was on UVM campus in the 1920's, we'd love to hear your stories. Get in touch with us and let's set up a time to talk!