John J. Pershing

Lieutenant John J. Pershing (1860-1948) served as Commander of the Cadet Corp at the University of Nebraska from 1891-1895. His office and work as drill master were centered in Grant Hall. Pershing earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nebraska in 1893, and eventually went on to become the Commander in Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. Pershing retained ties to Lincoln for many years. His sister stayed in Lincoln, and his son Warren lived with her after the tragic death of his mother and sisters, Pershing's wife and daughters, in 1915.

Pershing died in 1948. In 2006 the University of Nebraska renamed the Military and Naval Science Building in his honor.