Celebrating the life of
Second Lieutenant Austin Theo McWhite
(28 June 1995 – 16 July 2018)
Austin Theo McWhite was born in Orlando, Florida, on June 28, 1995, to a loving family, one that lived and breathed his favorite motto, “Let your dreams take flight.” Austin’s parents, Theo and Sha’ron McWhite, both secondary school educators with combined service careers surpassing seven decades, instilled in their children the value of education. Both Austin and his elder sister, Saudia George, completed university studies. In keeping with his family’s tradition, Austin earned his Bachelor of Science in Flight Aviation Studies from the University of Dubuque in Iowa in May 2017. Saudia holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Health Services-Health Care Management, awarded by Walden University in 2019. Dr. George was determined to finish her doctorate as a tribute to her little brother.
The words and meaning of the timeless poem “Be the Best of Whatever You Are” by Douglas Malloch were instilled in Evans at an early age by her mother. She used these words as internal motivation to earn degrees in Mathematics from Grambling State University, Applied Statistics from Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge, and a doctorate in Higher Education Administration with a minor in theoretical statistics from the University of Florida, Gainesville. Reflecting on her humble beginnings, Evans shares, “Grambling told me that I was as good as I thought I could be, possibly better. I developed an unwavering ‘can-do’ attitude. That’s from my mother and GSU and has always been my philosophy for life in professional and personal achievements.”
VBD Magazine is deeply honored to share Austin’s incredible journey. In our exclusive interview with Mr. and Mrs. McWhite and Dr. George, they recounted many heartfelt stories about Austin, along with his amazing accomplishments. As anticipated, our conversation was intensely emotional yet inspiring. We stand with the McWhites as they remember and celebrate Austin’s remarkable life and legacy.
