Maj. John R. Stark has led a life of excitement and success, and soon he will be able to add a doctorate from Ohio State to his list of accomplishments.

Stark, 33, served as an armor officer in the Army, an armor platoon leader in Germany and a tank company commander in Fort Knox, Ky. and has had lunch with President Bush. Stark will receive a doctorate in history March 21 from OSU.

After graduating high school, Stark went to the U.S. Military Academy for his bachelor’s degree.

Vicki Stark, Stark’s mother, said she was excited the day she found out he got an appointment for his admission to West Point.

“The phone rang and it was the aide for Vice President Bush Sr. at the time, asking me if John was still interested in going to West Point, and that he had an appointment with Bush,” Vicki Stark said. “Everybody was gone when I got the call, so I had no one to celebrate with. When John came home, I told him, and he responded with ‘Oh wow!’ and did a somersault.”

Former President George Bush was present at graduation when Stark had completed his work at West Point. Upon getting his diploma, Stark said to Bush “Thank you for the appointment, sir,” and received a hug from Bush.

Stark said his time at West Point was a positive experience.

“West Point is a great place for many reasons, but mostly because everyone here is willing to put their lives on the line, or at least to live a spartan lifestyle in order to protect the ideals of the American Constitution, like free speech, freedom of religion, democracy and justice,” Stark said.

After his time at West Point, Stark spent three and a half years in Germany, and served two company commands at Fort Knox.

The Army then asked Stark to return to West Point to teach history. In order to teach he needed a master’s degree, and the Army was giving him two years to get it.

“I chose Ohio State because I heard it had a great history program,” Stark said.

In two years, Stark finished his master’s degree and headed back to West Point to teach. He also continued pursuing his doctorate at OSU.

Besides being a teacher at West Point, Stark is also the head counselor of the department of history and an officer representative for the Army women’s basketball team.

Stark said it has been hard being so involved at West Point and working for a doctorate.

“Yes, it has been hard, but not impossible. In order to finish my Ph.D., I have given up every vacation and holiday to do research and write,” Stark said. “I have never had many free weekends.”

The Army has given Stark flexibility to combine official business with research and has even paid for up to $1,000 per year in research expenses.

A big impact on Stark’s life and work has been the understanding of the OSU faculty, particularly his adviser, Alan Beyerchen.

Beyerchen, Stark’s graduate professor in German history, said Stark was a role model for his consideration of others, preparation for class and for his open mind.

“He was always ready with contributions to class, based on careful reading and thoughtful consideration of the issues,” Beyerchen said. “He was successful largely because he came to class prepared and thus took away from the class the maximum it had to offer each day — and then he built on what he learned and came in prepared again the next time.”

Stark is often mistaken for the descendant of a general that fought in the Revolutionary War, Maj. Gen. John Stark, who has the same exact name.

“I don’t really mean to mislead anyone,” Stark said. “I am not related to the Revolutionary War general, but we share a name and a philosophy.”

Stark said he has always liked one of the general’s quotation, “Live free or die, for death is not the worst of evils.”

A life lesson he has learned from the Army is that hard work is nearly always rewarded, he said.

“The Army needs thoughtful, introspective and articulate officers, and Ohio State and the people who have been part of my graduate experience have profoundly impacted my development in my attempts to become that person,” he said.

Vicki Stark said Stark has led a very exciting life.

“It is funny. Nobody told him to make straight ‘A’s — he just did. I don’t think it was very hard for him,” she said.

Stark credits much of his success to those around him.

“I owe so much to so many people, it is impossible to explain. That is another life lesson confirmed by both the Army and Ohio State: No one does anything meaningful without a whole lot of help from other people,” Stark said.