He served in the Navy during World War II, the Korean conflict and the Vietnam conflict, serving for 33 years before retiring in 1973. He was assigned to the Naval Intelligence Office and was later attached to the Defense Department Intelligence Agency in charge of the Photographic Office. He was also a member of the president's briefing staff during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Mr. Sands received the Presidential Legion of Merit, the CIA Intelligence Medal of Merit, the European, African, Middle East Campaign Medal with Battle Star, the Atlantic Theatre Medal and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal.

After retiring from the Navy, he was an adjunct professor and instructor at the University of Maryland, George Washington University, Virginia Polytechnical Institute and the University of Virginia.

Born in Conrad, Mont., and raised in Tacoma, Wash., Mr. Sands graduated from Lincoln High School, attended the University of Washington and received his bachelor's degree, master's degree and Ph.D in communications from the University of Southern California. He was a member of the Military Officers Association of America, the Arlington Glebe Lodge of Masons of Fairfax, Va., and the Military Order of World Wars. He lived in Alexandria, Va., before moving to Atkinson in 1992.