Morris Coston

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Morris Coston is a distinguished graduate of the University of Arkansas Army ROTC program.  His career as an Infantry officer spanned two decades, including two combat tours in Vietnam and two overseas tours in Germany.

Born and raised in Malvern, Arkansas, LTC Coston began his military career at 16 while still a high school student serving in the Arkansas National Guard.  As a sophomore in college at the University of Arkansas, his unit was mobilized during the Little Rock Nine integration crisis. While in ROTC, he also served as the Cadet Battalion Commander after graduating the top cadet at ROTC Advanced Camp at Camp Hood, Texas.  Upon his graduation and regular army commissioning in 1961, he embarked on a distinguished career in the U.S. Army Infantry, but he would return again to the University of Arkansas from 1970 - 1972 for a M.S. in Mathematics.

While he served in various Command and Staff positions from Company level to Corps, his fondest memory was as the commander of the Honor Guard company of the 3d Infantry (The Old Guard).  As the Army's ceremonial unit in Washington D.C., the Honor Guard provides honors functions at the White House, Arlington Cemetery, and the nation's Capitol including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Fife & Drum Corps.  As the commander, he marched in a Presidential Inauguration parade and buried a President.  As a lieutenant in Germany, he also had a small cameo appearance in the movie The Longest Day. 

LTC Coston’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.  His badges include the Combat Infantry Badge and the Parachutist Badge. 

Following his military service, LTC Coston dedicated another 25 years as an educator including 15 years as a high school math, physics, and ROTC teacher at Lakeside High School in Hot Springs, Arkansas. After Lakeside, he also taught at the Arkansas School for Math & Sciences, served as the mathematics coordinator for Pulaski County Special School District, worked as a Teacher Outreach Facilitator for the University of Central Arkansas, and did private educational consulting for school improvement where he influenced generations of students.

Now fully retired, LTC Coston and his wife, Shari, have a blended family of seven children and ten grandchildren.  They reside in Hot Springs, Arkansas where they are involved in their church and community. LTC Coston is an avid wood-worker and lifelong Razorback fan.