General Andrews was a soldier, business man, and statesman. Few men have filled as many important and varied positions as he has, and all with distinction. He was a loyal and distinguished West Pointer and over the years did much for our Alma Mater. While he was President (1928-31) of the Association of Graduates he founded the Endowment Fund and gave the original gift of $1000. That fund has risen to over half a million dollars.
Avery Delano Andrews was born in Massena, St. Lawrence County, X. Y., on April 4, 1861, to Hannibal and Harriet (Delano) Andrews. He was a descendant of John Andrews, an Englishman who landed in Massachusetts in 1635 and settled in Farmington, Conn., in 1640. On his mother’s side, he was descended from Phillipe de la Noye, a French Huguenot who landed in Plymouth in 1621.
Young Andrews attended Williston Seminary (now Williston Academy), in Easthampton, Mass., in 1881-1882. He graduated from the U.S.M.A., in 1886, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 5th Artillery. He first served at Fort Columbus, Governors Island, N. Y. He was on special duty at Headquarters, Division of the Atlantic, in 1888. From 1889 to 1892 he was Aide de Camp to Lieutenant General John M. Schofield, commanding the Army.
On September 27, 1888, he married Mary Campbell Schofield, daughter of Lieutenant General Schofield, and granddaughter of Professor W. H. C. Bartlett, U.S.M.A. They had two sons, Schofield and Delano Andrews, neither of whom attended the Military Academy but both served with distinction during World War I. Andrews was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1892. He resigned from the Army on November 2, 1893.
While on duty in Washington, Andrews studied law at Columbian University, now George Washington University, and received his LL.B in 1891. Upon his relief as ADC, he returned to the 5th Artillery.
He received his LL.B from New York Law School in 1892 and was appointed Prize Tutor. After resignation he made his home in New York City and engaged in the practice of law as a member of the firm of Wells and Andrews.
Upon leaving the Army, Andrews was appointed Major and Engineer Officer on the staff of the First Brigade, National Guard of the State of New York. In 1898 he was appointed Commanding Officer of Squadron A. At the outbreak of war with Spain he was commissioned a Lieutenant Colonel of Volunteers and assigned to the staff of Major General James H. Wilson, 1st Division. He was Chief Quartermaster and Assistant Inspector General.
In 1895 he was appointed a Police Commissioner of New York City by Mayor Strong. He was Treasurer of the Police Board of which Theodore Roosevelt was President. In 1899 he was Adjutant General of the State of New York, and Chief of Staff to Governor Roosevelt, with rank of Brigadier General.
For the next sixteen years he devoted his efforts to building up his business. He was an extremely successful corporation counsel, and became an officer or director of many companies. His business interests were widely varied but were principally in the fields of petroleum, railroads, and banking.
When war was declared in 1917 he was made Director of Military Service of the Committee of Public Safety of the State of Pennsylvania. He resigned from that position in order to accept a commission as Colonel of Engineers, National Army, October 28, 1917. He sailed for France on November 19, 1917, where he served in the Service of Supply until July 22, 1918. While in the SOS, he was successively Deputy Director of Transportation. Deputy Chief of Utilities and Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff. In August 1918 he was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff, C-1, Hq. AEF. He was promoted to Brigadier General in October 1918. General Andrews returned to the United States on May 18, 1919, and was honorably discharged on May 31, 1919.
He was appointed Brigadier General, ORC, on April 7, 1921. He resigned April 7, 1926. His decorations include:
United States: Distinguished Service
Medal; Victory Medal with 3 clasps
France: Commander, Legion of Honor
Belgium: Commander. Order of the Crown
Italy: Commander, Order of the Crown
General Andrews liked people. He could not give half-hearted support to any organization, it was all or nothing. Among his many activities, he was a Trustee of George Washington University, Director of the American Society of the French Legion of Honor, Trustee of the Grant Memorial Association, and Trustee and President of the Association of Graduates. U.S.M.A. He belonged to numerous clubs and societies, both civilian and military-oriented.
In 1934, after seventy years of very eventful and productive activity. General Andrews retired and moved to Winter Park, Florida. He was the author of a book, “My Friend and Classmate, John J. Pershing,” published in 1939 by the Military Service Publishing Company. Mrs. Andrews died in 1945.
During the past ten years he enjoyed remarkable vigor of mind and body, but his sight was failing. He continued his great interest in people and his many organizations. As the last survivor or the Class of 1886, he gathered a considerable collection of material about his classmates. This, along with a bequest to the Endowment Fund, he left to the Association of Graduates. His interest in West Point, its sons, and the Association was ever one of his pleasures.