WILLIAM FRANKLIN GEORGE, II

A memorial service for Lt. Col. William F. George II, Class of 1968, was held on January 28, 1983 at the Hill Air Force Base Chapel. Colonel George, assigned to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, was declared dead January 24 after being missing since a January 19 F-l6 accident over the Great Salt Lake in Utah. He
was interred at the Air Force Academy Cemetery on February 16. He was born on June 25, 1946 in Bayside, N.Y., and was commissioned in the Air Force after graduating from the Academy in 1968. His first duty assignment was with the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, Westover AFB, Mass. Subsequent assignments took him to Headquarters, Strategic Air Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.; the 18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.; the 14th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Udorn Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand; the 13th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, MacDill AFB, F1a.; and the 59th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Eglin AFB, Fla. Colonel George attended the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Ala., during which he earned his master of business administration degree from Auburn University. Following Air Command and Staff College, he was assigned to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hill AFB, Utah in July 1980. While assigned to the 388th. He was a plans officer, an assistant operations officer in the 34th and 42 1st Tactical Fighter Squadrons, and subsequently served as the chief of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing Standardization and Evaluation Division. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal with six devices, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. While there are those of us who did not have the good fortune of knowing Bill at the Academy, it did not take long to know and cherish his and his family's friendship. Whether it was a friend, a crew chief, a flight lead, or a wing commander, they will all remember Bill for his big smile and firm handshake. He was a leader, dedicated to improving our Air Force. He taught the young and inexperienced, counseled his peers, and always gave his best to his boss. Bill was the consummate professional and those who served with him will be better for the experience. He is survived by his wife, Sheila and three daughters, Jennifer, Katie, and Molly, his parents, Richard and Ruth George and two brothers, Richard and David. Contributions in his memory may be made to the William F. George 11 Memorial Fund, Association of Graduates, U. S. Air Force Academy, Colo. 80840. (Maj. Richard H. White, '69)