Earl Duston Saunders, a resident of Highland Mills for over 40 years, passed away peacefully at the age of 73 on October 26, 2023. Duston was the loving husband, warrior, and champion of Joanne (Hines) Saunders, to whom he had been married for 50 years. A thoroughly humble and devout servant who shunned any form of personal recognition, his life was a model for all who knew him. 

The son of the late James Walter Saunders and Louise LuEllen Saunders, Duston was born on  April 1, 1950 in San Antonio, Texas. Over the years his family relocated to Ohio and Duston entered the U.S. Military Academy on July 1, 1968. During his time as a Cadet at West Point, he met Joanne, the love of his life, at a school dance (hop). Following his graduation in June 1972, he and Joanne married at West Point in June 1973. His decades of service to the Nation, the Army, the Military Academy, and the Corps of Cadets, with Joanne always at his side, began at that dance. 

Duston’s Army career as an infantryman included service with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; the 1st Battalion 509th Infantry (Airborne) in Vicenza, Italy; and with the 42nd Infantry Division, New York National Guard. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in July 2000 having completed Airborne, Ranger, Pathfinder, and Jumpmaster courses, and multiple company command tours.

After leaving active duty Duston joined Arbitration Forums, a national corporation that provides arbitration and mediation programs for insurance related disputes. Initially serving as the Comptroller, Duston was quickly promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. 

Duston joined the West Point Association of Graduates in 1992 and served 18 years in positions of increasing responsibility, where he increased annual giving eight-fold, and led major initiatives that transformed the organization into a modern, nationally recognized collegiate fund-raising organization.

Duston is best known for his extraordinary accomplishments as the Coach of the West Point Pistol Team for 31 years. The Team won 211 victories to 54 losses over 30 seasons, including 9 overall National Intercollegiate Pistol Championships and 20 national event championships. His teams finished first, second or third 26 times in 29 National Championships. 75 Cadets have earned 247 All-America honors. To better prepare team members for combat after graduation, Duston secured additional resources to allow training at an internationally recognized training school with intensive tactical live-fire training. In addition to his coaching duties, Duston was heavily involved in the design and project management that rebuilt and restored West Point’s Marksmanship Center.

Duston innately knew how to teach, train, motivate and lead the young men and women in the Corps of Cadets to achieve their potential. He was revered by his team members because of his true care of them. He was not only a pistol coach but a life coach. He wanted nothing more than to make everyone better and served as a mentor to team members at West Point as well as after their graduation. His cadets considered the team to be their family, a key part of which was the foundation of respect, unquestioning support, and encouragement from “Mrs. Coach.” His leadership was recognized across the national collegiate pistol community. Honored three times as the Distinguished College Coach, he also earned a lifetime award for “Outstanding Service to Collegiate Shooting Sports.” He received the Mike Krzyzewski Award for Excellence in Teaching Character Through Sport in 2011. He was also selected four times to coach Team USA Pistol Team at the World University Games in China, Russia, South Korea, and Italy. 

He was an extraordinary supporter of the Class of 1972, volunteering to chair highly successful and professionally executed class reunions at West Point; providing awards to graduating sons and daughters of the class; representing the Class at many events with the affiliation class of 2022; and securing custom-engraved pistols for hundreds of graduates and USMA faculty. His Company B-1 classmates considered him the best of them all and they recently nominated him for the U.S. Military Academy Distinguished Graduate Award, presented to graduates whose character, distinguished service and stature reflect the Academy’s motto of “Duty, Honor, Country.”

He is survived by his wife, Joanne (Hines) Saunders, brothers, James Saunders (Lynn), Colin Saunders (Tracy) and sisters Penny Burleson (Bill), Deborah Simmons (Mike), and LuEllen Scouten. 

For each LTC (R) E. Duston Sanders bracelet sold, $10 will be donated to the AOG Pistol Team Fund.