Mahaffey was born on January 4, 1934, in Clovis, New Mexico. A football and track star at Carlsbad High School in Carlsbad, New Mexico and at the University of Denver, Mahaffey put University of Denver football on the map in 1954. Mahaffey's still name dots Denver's record book. An honorable mention All-Skyline Conference member in 1953, Mahaffey broke out in 1954, rushing for 813 yards and 12 touchdowns while earning All-America and first-team All-Skyline Conference honors. Finishing ninth in the country in rushing yards, he and teammate Fred Tesone formed one of the top rushing tandems in the nation as the two combined for 2,528 yards, outrushing their opponents by over a 2-to-1 margin and helping the Pioneers to a 9–1 record, the first outright conference championship since 1917 and the second-best season in school history. He is the school's all-time leader in rushing yards, touchdowns and points and ranks second in all-purpose yards and third in total yards from scrimmage.
Military career
When he graduated from the University of Denver in 1955, he was commissioned as an officer in the US Army. He later earned his master's degree in International Affairs at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. Mahaffey went on to a distinguished military career, one that saw him win three Silver Stars, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and four Bronze Stars for valor in combat and a Distinguished Service Medal, the Army's highest non-combat award. He commanded a battalion in the 9th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War. In 1975 he assumed command the 2nd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division. He was succeeded in command of the 2nd Brigade by a fellow future four-star general, then-Colonel Colin Powell. He also commanded the 3rd Infantry Division from 1981 to 1983. Mahaffey's other assignments included Division Operations Officer for the 101st Airborne Division, Assistant Commandant of the United States Army Infantry School; Deputy Commanding General of the Combined Arms Combat Development Activity; and Deputy Chief of Staff for operations for the Army. Mahaffey was promoted to four star rank in 1985 at the age of 51, making him one of the youngest four-star generals ever.
Death and burial
Diagnosed with cancer while on active duty, he died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on October 13, 1986, at the age of 52. Mahaffey was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He was survived by his wife, the former Jane Garrett, and four daughters: Lorrie, Selene, Julie, and Melissa. A memorial to him can be found engraved in stone in Carlsbad Beach in Carlsbad, New Mexico.
Honors
On May 16, 1989, the headquarters building of the 3rd Infantry Division was dedicated in his honor. He was posthumously inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame. Mahaffey was also inducted posthumously into the University of Denver Athletic Hall of Fame. The old Fort Campbell High School building, which is now Mahaffey Middle School, is named for him.
