MG Evarts Walton Opie Sr.

MG Evarts Walton Opie Sr. was born in Staunton, Virginia on 12 Sep 1893, the youngest of State Senator John Newton and Ida Walton (Fletcher) Opie's 7 children. His father had 4 children by his first wife, Isabelle (Harmon) Opie, who had died in 1877. A graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, John Opie had served in the Stonewall Brigade in the Civil War and become a farmer after the war. He supported the family on a farm near Mount Sidney, Virginia valued at $25,000 in 1870. Evarts was educated in Staunton public schools, at the Staunton Military Academy and numerous military schools, including the Army Command and General Staff College. He began his newspaper career in 1904 as a carrier and held practically every position on The Staunton Leader staff during his 72 years with the company.

Evarts began his military career by enlisting as a musician/drummer in Co. A, 2nd Virginia Infantry, Virginia National Guard in 1907 at the age of thirteen. Opie was commissioned a first lieutenant in 1911 and participated in the Mexican Border conflict in 1916. He accepted a regular Army commission in the cavalry in 1917 and remained with the United States Liquidation Commission in France following his service there during World War I.

He returned to the newspaper in 1920 as city editor of The Staunton Leader. He afterwards served as advertising manager, managing editor and general manager.

Evarts remained active in the Virginia National Guard in peacetime and assumed command of the 116th Infantry Regiment (the Stonewall Brigade) in October 1940 and was promoted to colonel. He led the regiment into Federal service on 3 Feb 1941 and expanded it to war strength and training for combat overseas at Fort George Meade, Maryland. In September 1941 he was promoted to Brigadier General and assigned as deputy commander of the Infantry Replacement Training Camp at Fort Walters, Texas. Following World War II, he returned to Staunton and again resumed his newspaper career. MG Opie retired as board chairman and editor of The Staunton Leader Papers in 1979.

Opie was active in many civic and church affairs and a lifelong member of Trinity Episcopal Church. He was chairman of the State Hospital Board, the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace Foundation and a past president and charter year member of the Staunton Rotary Club.

MG Opie died on 12 Mar 1982 in Staunton, Virginia. He rests forever in Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton, Virginia. 

Evarts older brother, Hierome Lindsay Opie, was also a commander of the 116th Infantry Regiment and commanded the 3rd battalion of the regiment in WWI.