LeRoy Glenn Barco
August 25, 1942 - July 17, 2021

Maj. (Ret) LeRoy Glenn Barco, died July 17, 2021 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, of colon cancer. He was born Aug. 25, 1942, in Durham, N.C. A military brat, he lived with his family in Washington D.C.; Narsarsuaq, Greenland; San Bernardino, California; and Tampa, Florida. After joining the Civil Air Patrol and some enlisted time in the Air Force, he attended the Air Force Academy's Prep School, followed by the Academy itself. He belonged to the 12th and 5th Squadrons and graduated in June 1968. A month later, he began a 53-year marriage to Katherine Anne Falconer (LHC '68). They had met on a blind date arranged by a squadron mate (thanks, Bill R!). Initial confusion during their introduction was caused by LeRoy's nameplate: "Beat Army."

Assignments included Webb AFB, Texas; Mather AFB (California); K. I. Sawyer AFB (Michigan); Andersen AFB (Guam); March Air Reserve Base (California); and Guam again where he retired in 1987. During the Vietnam War, he was a B-52 radar navigator.

LeRoy and Kathy moved to Albuquerque in 1994 where LeRoy enjoyed retirement and indulged his passions for antique record players and records, stereo photography, and 3D movies. He traveled to many auctions, conferences and conventions. He was a computer enthusiast and had the foresight to purchase an Apple Macintosh in early 1984.

In 2015, LeRoy and Kathy responded to an Association of Graduates brochure describing an Elvis-themed December Mississippi River cruise from Memphis to New Orleans aboard the American Queen steamboat. A tour of Graceland preceded the embarkation, and plenty of the King's music was performed throughout the voyage. The following year, a second planned trip on the Queen to see autumn foliage along the Mississippi between Red Wing, Minnesota, and St. Louis, Missouri, never made it out of Minnesota. Ol' Man River was too high due to recent heavy rains. Despite the boat's folding smokestacks, it was impossible for it to glide under the many bridges.

Amtrak was LeRoy's preferred mode of travel. He rode the Southwest Chief frequently from Albuquerque (Wi-Fi on the train!)

Most of all, LeRoy supported Kathy in the library career she began when he retired. When she contemplated going to graduate school and said, "But I'll be 50 when I get my master's!" he replied, "You'll be 50 whether you get it or not!" She got it.

In addition to Kathy, LeRoy is survived by his daughter, Kristen; son-in-law Andrew; grandson Cameron; sister Gwendolyn; brother Preston; and many nieces and nephews. (Kathy, LeRoy's wife)