My old company commander eventually made GO. I found him to be one of the most repulsive human beings to ever wear a uniform. Some of the things he did to me and others pooped all over the notion of being an officer, gentleman, and a professional. I found him to be a petulant, tiny-dicked bully who shouldn't be in charge of anyone...but he picked up a star before he retired.
I know some folks who swear to this day he is a good guy and they didn't see what some of us saw. He showed them one face and some others saw something different.
Both perspectives are true, or can be. I'm sure to members of the GOB club he was a rockstar. To some outside of that circle who he helped or treated fairly, he's probably still a rock star. To those of us who crossed him through faults, or none, of our own? He's a shitbag.
Perception is reality.