Alumni Promotion

Recent article about Ashley Worboy (Class of 90) and Tim Sellers (Class of 92)

Col. Ashley Worboys, second from left, poses with wife, MaryDale Morgan Worboys; father, James Worboys; Col. Tim Sellers; and son, Hampton Worboys, after his promotion ceremony to colonel in the U.S. Army. (Larry Penkava / The Courier-Tribune)

ASHEBORO — Lt. Col. Ashley Worboys was sworn in as a colonel in the Army Friday night by a man he mentored in college.

Col. Tim Sellers presided over the promotion ceremony of Worboys at The Exchange in Asheboro as family and friends watched. Worboys repeated after Sellers the oath of commissioned officers, swearing to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. ..."

"He's an awesome guy and an incredible officer," Sellers said of Worboys. "He was a mentor of mine in college. He taught me what it means to care about the military and about the country. He exemplifies military service and encouraged me to take it seriously."

Worboys, a lifelong resident of North Carolina, is married to MaryDale Morgan Worboys, who grew up in Asheboro. They have bought a home in Asheboro, where she practices marriage and family counseling.

"We bought a retirement home on Park Street," said Worboys, "then I was selected for (promotion to) colonel so I'll have three more years (of service)."

He said he thinks he'll be stationed at either Fort Bragg or the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

Worboys is an active-duty reservist, supporting "weekend warriors." But he has been deployed overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as Kenya. His awards include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal.

Worboys and Sellers met at Appalachian State University, where they were roommates and members of the ROTC. Sellers said Worboys was "two years my senior and a mentor."

During the ceremony, Sellers said his mentor's deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan put him "in harm's way. But he was doing what he had to do for his country. These weren't easy things to do. He sacrificed to serve."

Col. Ashley Worboys, second from left, poses with wife, MaryDale Morgan Worboys; father, James Worboys; Col. Tim Sellers; and son, Hampton Worboys, after his promotion ceremony to colonel in the U.S. Army.
Published: Jan 24, 2017 2:22pm

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