Bill Buford
After
graduation I went through Nav training at Mather AFB, Ca, followed by
EC-47s at DaNang and a tour in the C-142 at Charleston AFB, SC as a nav
and instructor nav. I separated in 1974, but continued as an instructor
nav in the Reserves at Travis AFB, CA.
Elaine and I were married in 1970 and we had three daughters
- Alice born in 1971 (she was a month old when I returned from Viet
Nam), Valerie born in 1976, and Scarlett born in 1979. Alice and her
husband, Ben have five kids: 4 girls and a boy, ages 6 through 14 (they
live near us in SW Houston). Valerie and her husband, Chris, have three
daughters (ages 3 to 7) and they live in Battle Mountain, Nevada. Scarlett
is single and living in NYC, working at the Metropolitan Opera and she
previously danced three years with the Rockettes.
I received an MS in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
from Cal State University in 1978, became a Registered Professional
Engineer in Louisiana (Electrical Engineering) in 1980, and followed
that with a PhD in Interdepartmental Engineering from LSU in 1984.
From '76-'82 I was a Biomedical Engineer, Rehabilitation
Research at the National Hansen's Disease Center (NHDC) in Baton Rouge,
LA. That center is involved with Leprosy. After that I was the Director,
Paul W. Brand Department of Rehabilitation Research at the NHDC fro
'84-'91.
From there I moved to Galveston, TX , where I was Assistant
Professor and Director in Biomechanics Research, Department of Orthopedic
Surgery and Rehabilitation, University of Texas Medical Branch. In 1997
I was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. In 2003 I was promoted
to Professor. From 1999-2013 I was the Director, Division of Research.
On Aug 31, 2013 I retired.
I miss my Jag XK150, but I've kept a Honda S2000 for
ten years.
Rock Buraglio
Barbara
and I live in Colorado Springs with our in-charge Boston
Terrier Sadie. Shes cute, knows it, and exhibits the behavior
of an executive dog i.e. we work for her! As you might suspect,
we enjoy it.
Although the deal with the Air Force was five for
four, I managed to spend 36 plus years in uniform (12 active duty
and 24 reserve). Five years went by fast and 36 years and a 45th reunion
seem to have come even faster. When I separated from active duty in
1980, I went to work for Martin Marietta Corporation which later became
Lockheed Martin Corporation spent 28 years in aerospace stuff--rockets,
satellites, planes and even ill-advised environmental efforts. The environmental
job took Barbara and me to Idaho for four years. This was our only break
from Colorado where we have lived for almost 24 years.
As much as I enjoyed working, I enjoy retirement more. We have more
time to spend together, more time to waste any way we want, and fewer
demands for things that must be accomplished. Sometimes
I wonder how I ever managed to work at all!
Grandchildren--daughter Christie and spouse with 2 boys and 2 girls
in Colorado Springs, son Donny and spouse with 2 girls and 1 boy in
Carmel Valley, CA keep us involved and on the move.
Mike Chapman
Following
graduation, I went through pilot training at Webb AFB, Texas. I got
a C-7A assignment and spent 1970 in Vietnam6 months in Phu Cat
and 6 at Cahm Rahn Bay. Then back to the states as a T-37 instructor
at Reese AFB Texas.
From June, 1974 to December, 1975 I was at Wright Patterson
AFB, OH getting my MSEE at AFIT. I was then assigned to the AF Armament
Lab at Eglin AFB, Fl. I met, and married, Kathy at Eglin.
In May, 1979 I finally got a fighter assignment and,
following fighter lead in training, went through F-4 RTU at Homestead
AFB, Fl. In June, 1979 our first son, Tommy, was born. There were complications
and he suffered severe brain damage at birth and was severely handicapped
all his life. In September, 1979 we were assigned to Seymour Johnson
AFB, NC where I flew the F-4 until February 1981. Then off to Sembach
AB Germany in OV-10s. In December, 1982 our second son was born.
This time Kathys water broke on Christmas Eve so she spent 6 days
in the hospital. On December 30th, John was delivered and weighed in
at 3 pounds, 7.5 oz. John is now 6 foot 1 inch and is a financial advisor
with his MBA.
In September 1984 they shut down the OV-10s in Germany
and I led the 2nd 7 ship of OV-10s flying from Sembach to George AFB,
CAtook us a week. The C-130s escorting us (one rescue and
one maintenance) had to fly with flaps down so we could keep up. Then
I came to Wright-Patterson AFB, OH as a program manager.
In 1987 I was assigned as the Assistant Deputy Commander
for Operations for the 4950th Test Wing. In December 1987 I went to
the Defense Systems Management College at Ft Belvour, VA. Following
graduation, I came back to Wright Pat and was assigned to the Black
World as a Program Manger. In October 1988 our 3rd son, Mike,
was born (this time everything went ok)but you can imagine our
surprise when we found out Kath was pregnantI was 45 then!! Mike
is currently getting his Phd in Materials Engineering at Carnegie Mellon.
In November 1990 our first son died while in the care of the county
respite centerKath and I were in Florida for her parents 50th
wedding anniversary.
In May 1991 I retired from the AF and became a support
contractor and we stayed here in Dayton. I supported various programs
and, in 2000 was assigned as a Test Manager for the Global Hawk UAV
program and remained in this position for the next 12 years. I did convert
to Civil Service in 2009.
In December, 2012, I figured it was time to leave the
AF and decide what I wanted to do when I grow up. So, now Im trying
to improve my golf game but am still keeping the fairways in good shape
by playing in the right rough. I also fly radio controlled aircraft
but by RC record isnt like my AF flying record. Ive managed
to total 2 Piper Cubs, 2 Cirrus 22s and severely damage a P-51 and a
Spitfire.
While the kids were growing up, I coached and refereed soccer until
2002. By then, I was at the point where I couldnt keep up with
the 15 year old kids running up and down the field. I also was a Boy
Scout Scoutmaster from 1993 until last month. Finally had to quitthe
arthritis got too bad.
Charles (Chuck) Duncan
1968
- 69 U. of Michigan masters degree in nuclear engineering (a nice vacation
after USAFA)
1969-75 Air Force Weapons Laboratory - can you make a little piece of
a nuclear device?
1975-77 Lawrence Livermore Labs - detached duty from Weapons Laboratory
- can you make a laser for laser fusion? At end of tour, who would want
anyone with eight years of Weapons Lab experience? Guaranteed pass over.
Sooo.
1977-1982 Pentagon, Air Staff, Studies and Analysis - what weapons should
you buy? By end of tour, you have Pentagon experience, so if you go
back out into the field, they will just send you back to the Pentagon.
What to do?
1982-85 Pentagon, Joint Staff in what was called the Joint Analysis
Directorate in 1985. Anyone want to war game the next war? Amateurs
play tactics, professionals play logistics. True, so true.
1985-88 Tinker AFB, OK Try to start a maintenance program for nuclear
protection devices for B-52's and B-1's. Culture shock, civilians in
military and too much attention to time and motion optimization for
maintenance. Bet your rank, lost bet. Time to pull rip-cord at 20.
1988 Northern Virginia. Need a job, end up with 8-A small business with
contracts with Joint Staff and Ft Leavenworth. Within 3 years, 8-A small
business is not viable. Got job with FFRDC by the name of MITRE. No
one really knew why the name was MITRE with all caps etc, but it paid
the bills. All sorts of work around MITRE, but time to get out of the
way the next generations. Retired from paying jobs 2006.
Most humorous moment at USAFA. There was no humor at USAFA. It was deadly
serious until in the last week when I was called in by the Maj, who
had a career in Training Command training others to go to Vietnam. He
wanted me to sign up as a blind navigator. Since I had trouble finding
his office, I figured I would have trouble finding airplanes on a pad,
let alone navigate them. He looked at my scholarship from the AEC to
study "plasma physics" and surmised, "You're going into
a pre-med program!" "No, sir. I will be studying thermo-nuclear
weapons." He had no response, so I was dismissed.
I currently live in northern Virginia as a retired parasite on the body
politic living off the part of my retirement pay that I got to keep
and savings. I am spending my Social Security on running for local office,
and other political causes. I figure that since SS is a socialist evil
put upon this country by our government, I should use my little slice
of it to undermine the liberal causes where ever I can. Since election
day is 5 Nov, I will not be at the reunion. Hell Week is the month before
election day. I don't know what to call election day, maybe "election
day." If you have seriously worked polls, you will know why "election
day" is worse than a "hell week" day.
Mike Evans
68
- 69 Mather AFB, Sacramento, CA, Undergraduate Navigator Training, T-29
69 - 70 George AFB, Victorville, CA, F-4 Replacement Training Unit,
F-4D, E, C
70 - 72 MacDill AFB, Tampa, FL, WSO/IWSO, Replacement Training Unit,
F-4E
72 - 73 Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, TX, Undergraduate Pilot Training,
T-37, 38.
73 - 74 Shaw AFB, Sumter, SC, Replacement Training Unit, RF-4C
74 - 75 Udorn RTAFB, Udorn Thailand, Pilot (AC), RF-4C
75 - 77 Bergstrom AFB, Austin, TX, IP, RF-4C
77 - 78 MacDill AFB, MacDill AFB, Tampa, FL, Pilot, F-4E (LES)
78 - 79 Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan, IP, F-4D
79 - 80 Luke AFB, Phoenix, AZ, Pilot, F-15
80 - 82 Langley AFB, VA, Hampton, VA, Pilot, F-15
82 - 83 Maxwell AFB, AL, Montgomery AL, Student, ACSC
83 - 85 Langley AFB, VA, Hampton, VA, Staff Officer, F-15, TAC/IG
85 - 88 Tyndall AFB, FL, Panama City, FL, IP, F-15
88 - 89 Maxwell AFB, AL, Montgomery AL, Student, AWC
89 - 91 AFCENT HQ (NATO), Brunssum, The Netherlands, Joint Staff Officer.
91 - 92 Langley AFB, VA, Hampton, VA, Staff Officer, TAC/IG (Ret)
92 - 96 Crawfordsville, IN
96 - 00 Addison, IL
00 - 06 Indianapolis, IN
06 - Present, Manager Field Office, Raytheon, Wright Patterson Field
Office, Fairborn, OH.
Memorable Academy Event: I believe ~ 67, the night of the Black Death
when we were bussing sick guys to the hospital overnight - Strep I think.
Of course the super-sonic pass by the Thud over the Terrazzo was also
memorable.
Dick Ewers
On
5 June 1968 I was sworn into the Marine Corps as a Second Lieutenant
by my father, Colonel Norman Ewers, USMC. He was proud I chose the Marines
but a little surprised also. He knew I really wanted to fly fighters
and the Air Force should have been better equipped to give me that opportunity.
I was fortunate to see the handwriting on the wall. My chance for a
fighter seat in the Air Force was dismal. I elected to try the Marine
Corps pilot route and it turned out to be far better than I ever imagined.
My first assignment after commissioning was to attend
"The Basic School", which was followed by Navy pilot training.
After that I had to suffer through an assignment to an F-4J squadron
in Hawaii. After learning to fly the F-4 I deployed to Da Nang.
From 73-75 I was with the Navy at Mira Mar, CA, and
had one deployment on the USS Ranger in the western Pacific. After that
it was back to the Marines at El Toro, CA, which included a tour on
the USS Midway.
In 1978 I started an F-4E exchange tour with the 50th
TFW at Hahn AB, West Germany where I served as a flight commander for
the 496th TFS and Assistant Chief of Wing Stan Eval.
In July 1980 I returned stateside and attended the Navy Test Pilot School
at NATC Patuxent River, Maryland. After graduation I served as a test
pilot flying research missions in F-4, A-4 and the brand new F/A-18
aircraft.
In March of 1983 I was selected for promotion to Lieutenant
Colonel and given command of an F-4S squadron in Beaufort, SC.
This was easily the pinnacle of my flying career, as we went to two
Red Flags and deployed to Norway.
I followed that with a tour as a Group Ops Officer
in Japan and then a desk job (Fighter Requirements Project Officer)
at the Pentagon. I was able to escape from that back to Pax River as
the F/A-18 chief test pilot. I retired from that position in August
1989 with 21 years, 3 months of active duty.
Hired by Westinghouse I flew BAC 1-11 and Sabreliners
configured to test military equipment. After 9 years of this I managed
to join NASAs Dryden High Speed Flight Research Center at Edwards,
AFB. There I was lucky enough to fly everything from the T-34 to the
B-52, staying current in 5 aircraft at a time. My primary aircraft was
the F/A-18. I flew research projects until I turned 65 when they recommended
I fly only airplanes without ejection seats and with "bathrooms"
in them. My second main aircraft was a DC-8 NASA operates for worldwide
science research missions. I flew the DC-8 for 15 years taking scientists
and their experiments over both the North Pole and the South Pole and
lots of places in between. I retired from NASA on 31 May 2013 and now
the only thing I fly is my own Cessna 210.
During our first class year I met Sharon. We dated all year and got
married 4 January 1969 in Buffalo, New York. We have been married for
over 44 years and have two children.
Our
son is a third generation Marine Corps pilot who has flown helicopters
(CH-46) for 15 years. He has also done a tour flying the UC-35 (small
Citation jet). He is married and we have one 6 year old granddaughter
from him.
We also have a daughter who is married and living in
Telluride, CO with her husband and two more (6 year old and 4 year old)
granddaughters.
I think the one thing that has stuck with me over the
years is the F-105 flyby that broke all the windows at the start of
our June Week. I was so pumped up to get to pilot training and fly something
like the F-105 that I damn near had an orgasm from the rush of the event.
I can picture it even today and got a chance to nearly replicate the
moment at the 40th reunion, however, I kept my F/A-18 sub-sonic.
Sharon and I live in Palmdale, California. We expect to
move to a "final resting place" soon, but are now still searching.
Jim Farley
AFB
Assignments
a. 1968 Lowry AFB, Denver, CO
b. 1968-1970 Ching Chuan Kang AB, Taiwan; Cam Rahn Bay AB, Vietnam
c. 1970-1971 England AFB, Alexandria, LA
d. 1971-1973 AFIT, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA
e. 1973-1977 HQ USAFE, Ramstein AB, Germany
Post AF Locations
f. 1977-2011: Redondo Beach, CA; Norwalk, CN; Manhattan Beach, CA;
g. Worked 1977-2011 in System Engineering and Program Management at TRW/Northrup-Grumman.
Retired September 2011.
Biggest/most humorous/most influential event
h. Most humorous event that I remember was the noon fly-by by the F-105's
from McConnell AFB that broke most of the windows in Mitchell Hall and
several in Vandenberg Hall then Gen Olds laughing until the Superintendent
looked over at him at which time he very quickly adopted a stone face!
i. The most memorable event I remember is coming back to the Academy after
being in the Rocky Mountain National forest on survival training Dooley
summer and after being told that we could expect a steak feast, getting
cold cheese sandwiches because of the flooding of the Platte River at
that time. What a HUGE disappointment that was after surviving on very
little for those days. Bummer!
j. The most influential events were actually the two big honor scandals
during our four years at the Academy. One after we returned from Christmas
vacation Dooley year (first class to do so) and the other during either
our second class or first class year. It happened when a member of our
squadron who was also a member of the football team admitted he had tolerated
someone's cheating on a test.
What I'm doing now and where I live
k. Retired and living in Santa Ana, CA 92706
David Helgevold
First
and Last USAF Assignment: Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), El Segundo,
CA (5 years). Performed as a SMC Chief Engineer staff officer specializing
in writing engineering requirements into spacecraft and launch vehicle
contracts, specifically for reliability and electromagnetic compatibility
(2 years). Subsequently joined DOD Comsat System Program Office as a project
engineer for various DOD and British MOD communication spacecraft programs
(3 years). Also, was one of the founding officers of the Los Angeles Armed
Forces Management Association Chapter and served on the SMC Commanders
Junior Officer Executive Council. After separating from the AF, I spent
20 years at Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Hughes Space Systems (now Boeing),
and TRW(now Northrop Grumman) mostly serving as an Assistant Program Manager
for Product Assurance, on 5 major spacecraft programs for DOD, the National
Reconnaissance Office( NRO), NASA, and a commercial Comsat program called
Telstar III for Hughes Space Communications Division. Since 1993 I have
been a staff senior product assurance engineer for The Aerospace Corp.
in El Segundo, CA providing technical direction to various DOD and NRO
spacecraft and launch vehicle programs. I also served on a select committee
to evaluate the construction of the first 2 segments of the International
Space Station for NASA. Over the course of my career, I have had the pleasure
of working at Cape Canaveral, NASA Houston, and at all the major spacecraft
builders and subcontractors in the U.S. My claim to fame is that I wrote
the current Spacecraft and Launch Vehicle Quality Assurance Requirements
document that has been instituted on various programs from GPS to the
largest NRO programs. It is known as SMC Standard-003.
I retired in 2008 but have continued
as a consultant for The Aerospace Corporation.
"Moon over the Western Skies Motel" is my most humorous AFA
event. The F-105 Mach 1 blow out of many windows in Vandenberg Hall at
graduation was probably the biggest event we all experienced. Watching
Father Fighter (Robin Olds) and Chappie James pee in the sink at out 100th
night celebration because the urinals were too busy, was right up there
with "I remember whens". I was the Pistol Team Captain senior
year and was named to the NCAA All American Pistol Team for 2 years.
Oh yeah, I led Elephant Squadron on the "Rock and Back Run"
when I was a Firstie during Doolie summer for the Class of 1971. We were
the only squadron to run all the way and back, and I was the only Firstie
to lead Elephant Squadron for the entire run.
I have lived in Manhattan Beach, California for almost 40 years and love
it. Have a second home in northwest Tucson for a diversion and some great
hiking in the surrounding mountains and desert. Been married twice but
no kids and have been single for 30 years. I love running and hiking and
have run in the Manhattan Beach 10K every year since it started in 1978.
I also have been a gym rat since 1980 and have been a member of the original
Gold's Gym in Venice, CA for the last 14 years. My greatest fun is taking
hip hop dance classes which I have been doing for 23 years. I have been
in numerous dance performances over the years.
Pat Hurley
Headed
to UPT with a number of Trolls where we were wined and dined by Steve
McPhail's Mom and Dad and learned that "there's a loaf of bread in
every bottle" from the Sarge so there was no need to eat really.
Got married to Fancy Nancy right after UPT and clearly it is what saved
me from a life of wretched debaucher. Went to RVN in C-130. Flew about
2000 sorties in nearly 2 years, mainly milk runs but a few exciting days.
Got an F-100 assignment to go back but they gave all the Huns to the Guard
so I ended up at Willy flying T-38's and going to Grad school. Survived
both but got grounded by the Rated supp and went to Wright-Patt learning
how to make B-1's. Called it a day for active duty and moved back to AZ
for a job in the desert where I did OK working for Garrett AiResearch
and its successor owners, Signal, AlliedSignal and Honeywell. Moved around
--- Phoenix, LA, Taiwan, Baltimore, Seattle and back to Phoenix. Took
early retirement in 97 after life as a fixer (turnaround specialist) became
ugly. Had a few other ventures till former Vice Chairman from AlliedSignal
enticed us to Santa Barbara in 2001 to turn around a Raytheon operation
which was truly a professional hi-lite. Retired again in 2007 after 6
years in SB. Have a small consulting shop and serve on some PE Boards
but mostly play bad golf, go fishing travel and try to be a role model
(no really) for my grandkids.
We have two wonderful sons who avoided jail and married two wonderful
women who turned them into citizens who in turn have given us 4 grandkids,
2 girls, 12 and 10, and 2 boys, 4 and 2. The
girls, Alana and Eden are pictured with their Mom and Dad, Justin and
Andrea with us at lake Powell. Ethan, Amy, Finn and Reef were in Montana
where Ethan runs the Montana Board of Investment Private Equity and Alternative
Investment operation
Nancy, of course, runs the show cuts me ample slack but ultimately
on the straight and narrow. She is deeply involved in the community where
she has been the Junior League president , a Master docent at the Phoenix
Art Museum and is currently the Pope of the Presbyterians at Valley Presbyterian
Church. Her crowning achievement even beyond staying married to me for
44 years is being the indisputable world's best Grandmother or at least
in a dead heat tie with all the other world class grams out there
We just downsized from a nice home on the mountain to a smaller home a
mile away looking at the mountain in Paradise Valley, AZ come and
see us anytime.
Derek Iverson
1.
Snapshot Derek hiking on Burroughs Mtn, NE corner of Mt Rainier
2. Assignments/work history:
1970 O-1E Lai Khe, Vietnam1971-1973 KC-135, Fairchild AFB, WA
1973-1974 E. Wash. State College, MS Math
1975-1978 UCLA, PhD Engineering
1979-1984 Sr Scientist, Hughes Aircraft Co. Helped to develop the imaging
radar capability used in the F-15E.
1985-2011 Assoc. Tech. Fellow, Boeing Minuteman physical security system
radar;Star Wars space radar design; optimized multirole airborne surveillance
platform tradeoff study; impulse radar investigation, research, experiments;
millimeter wave seeker development; electronic warfare test system for
Benefield anechoic chamber at Edwards AFB; radar equipment manager for
US Navy P-8A and Indian Navy P-8I. Wrote a half-dozen papers/presentations
for peer reviewed journals and conferences; granted two patents for
radar related work.
3.
Influential Academy event: Surviving my reckless, arrogant, profane
Academy life choices to get married, get saved by Jesus Christ, and
raise a family (1 son and 4 daughters).
4. Current Location: Retired from Boeing in 2012 and
continue to live in Kent, WA where Ive lived the last 29 yrs.
Enjoying life with my wife of 44 years what a great gift she
has been to me.
5. Interests: Guitar making, translating Gods Word into new languages,
hiking, enjoying children and grand children, supporting aging parents.
Steve Marlier
AF
assignments:
'68 - '69: Grad school in Boston.
'69: Intel tech school Lowry AFB.
'69 - '70: Intel Officer, 3rd TAC Fighter Wing, Bien Hoa, Vietnam.
'70 - '72: Intel Officer SAC Bomb Wing Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina.
'72 - '73: ROTC instructor Iowa State U.
'73 resigned.
Post AF jobs:
'73 - '82: Sales and Sales management assignments IBM Chicago.
'82 - '83: Director of Marketing IBM Minneapolis.
'83 - '88: Director of Business Management Finance Products IBM Charlotte.
'88 - '91: Trading Area executive IBM Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
'91 - '96: Senior VP and Chief Marketing Officer Santa Fe Railroad,
Chicago.
"96 early retirement Charlotte, NC.
Memorable Event: Dick Ewers stretching his bladder trying to get back
to USAFA on a Saturday night.
What I have doing since retirement: Lots of volunteer work with the
United Way, the local Food Bank, my neighborhood and my Church. Also
much traveling with Susie to visit our 10 grandkids and four sons in
Phoenix, Milwaukee, Raleigh, and Charlotte, and playing golf.
Vern McGraw
My
AF assignments and aircraft:
- Hanscom AFB, Ma. C-130A
- Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, AC-130A
- Barksdale AFB/Anderson AFB, Guam, B-52G
- USAF Academy, T-37, USAFA Gliders
- 184th TFG, Wichita, Ks (KsANG)
After the AF:
-1980-1986: Boeing Military Airplane Company, Wichita,Ks. Systems Engineer/Engineering
Manager
-1986-Present: Sverdrup/Jacobs Engineering, Eglin AFB, Fl. Senior Systems
Engineer/Aircraft Integration SME
Biggest/most humorous/most influential event at the Academy.
Second semester, 1st class year, I was an element
leader in 20th. I had 3 of my doolies (class of 71) living
in a single room across the hall. One was a small kid from Oregon who
struggled with the 4th class system. His classmates consistently rated
him at the bottom on their peer reviews and he was always on some upper
classmans xxxx list. Sometime mid-semester, I was called into
a Commandants board where they were reviewing his performance
record prior to dismissing him for his low ratings (in spite of his
torment, he was doing well academically). I remember sitting in front
of several colonels and assorted other Academy officers as a witness.
One colonel asked me for my opinion as his element leader. I told the
panel that this kid had several strikes against him when he showed up
the previous summer. First, his last name was Greenleaf, he probably
weighed less than 140 lbs and wore black rimmed glasses. He was naïve
(never heard of Bear Bryant or Woody Hayes) and scared. Several upper
classmen were intent on running him out of the place. He
ran more, endured more special inspections, and served more confinements
than any other of his 71 classmates, yet was still here.
I ended my comments telling the panel to give him the opportunity to
continue he had earned it. Several days later, Major Bill Francke
(20th AOC), stopped me in the hall, shook my hand, and said Greenleaf
was staying. So, wherever you are, Garrison Lee Greenleaf, class of
1971, thats the rest of the story. Oh, one more thing.
One of the colonels on the panel wrote me up for out of limit sideburns.
My last Form 10.
Now:
Im working 20-30 hours/week as a part time SME
(Subject Matter Expert) for Jacobs Engineering supporting conventional
and nuclear cruise missile interface definition and aircraft integration,
Eglin AFB, Fl. Marilyn and I live in Bluewater Bay (east of Niceville,
FL), play golf, spend time at our Alabama lake house (Lake Martin),
visit kids/grandkids, plan/work Kiwanis and church projects.
Steve McPhail
Went
to pilot training at Randolph AFB where I also married Judi (who I met
at the Trolls Valentine party at the LaVista on Colfax in 1968).
Graduated from UPT and flew the O2-A in Hue and Quang Tri in 1970. Returned
to ADC and flew the T-33 at Tyndall AFB where my daughter Schenley was
born. In Aug 72 assigned to Ramstein as a T-33 IP and T-39 attached
pilot while working on the USAFE Briefing Team and the wing command
post. Twin sons Trent and Graham born at Landstuhl. Returned to the
T-33 at Tyndall in 76 and finally to the F-106. Flew the 106 at
McChord AFB, WA til resigning in Feb 80. Continued to be an AFA
liaison officer in the reserves for 15 more years so eventually retired
from the military w/ 11 active duty years and 15 in the reserves.
After leaving the AF, I worked in the pilot liaison
office at the GE Aircraft Engine Group in Cincinnati before being hired
at Southwest Airlines as the #200 pilot. At SWA I got into union work
and served as a domicile rep, grievance chairman, negotiator and vice-president.
We lived in Dallas (SWAs only base when I was hired in Dec 80)
and I commuted to Houston for 24 years. I was mandatorily retired by
the FAA on 6/6/6, the day before my 60th birthday.
I am now retired and Judi and I live in Manchester Center,
VT, Judis hometown of 3500. We travel a lot - last fall sailing
in Australia for 2 months, winter skiing in Breckinridge, summer canoe
trip in British Columbia. I try to improve my fly fishing and lower
my golf handicap (25.4) as yet to no avail. We both spend a lot of time
in SFO and BWI babysitting 4 grandchildren.
In the spring of 68 I had given Maj Rodee my word
that there would be NO alcohol at Farish. Unfortunately, my date (from
DU) didnt think I was serious and after we had left the wine skin
in her car she went back in the snow and got it. Maj Rodee saw it under
her cot and brought that to my attention on Monday. He called me to his
office and I got privately issued restrictions and important advice to
pick a good woman and stick with her (which I did).
Donald Mrosla
Air
Force:
1968-69 Laughlin AFB, TX - pilot training
1969-70 Pope AFB, NC - C130 copilot-flew 60 day rotations to Europe
1970-73 CCK AB, Taiwan - C130 co-pilot/aircraft commander/instructor
pilot (flew into Vietnam - Feb71-Apr 75)
1973-75 Clark AB, P.I. - C-130 instructor pilot/command post
1975-76 Yongsan army post, Korea - aid-de-camp to General Richard Stiwell(4-star
army)
1976-80 Mccord AFB, WA - C130 instructor/simulator instructor/flight
examiner
1980-86 Travis AFB, CA 22nd Air Force flight examiner
1986-90 Rhine-Main, Germany - C130 instructor/ Wing-CVI/IG/Vice Base
Commander
1990- Fairfield, CA - C130 pilot for Southern Air Transport/Southwest
Airlines pilot/ retired senior citizen
After
pilot training I flew the C-130 until I retired in 1990 - my brother
Duane and I were stationed together from 1962 -1973 (enlisted/prep school/academy/pilot
training/Pope AFB/and CCK AB) Du got out of the AF in 1973 and got out
of the guard in 1998. The most exciting flying I did was from Feb 71-Apr
75 in Nam (from both CCK and Clark).
As for academy life - it was not very exciting - being
on ac-pro 7 out of 8 semesters. The biggest event I remember is our
mach 1+ fly-by before graduation.
Current activities:
Moved to Fairfield, CA when I retired from the AF -
flew 10+ years with Southwest and had to retire when I hit 60--have
been playing racquetball 4-5 times a week at Travis AFB-have made a
few trips to China with the wife and made more trips to Southern Cal
to visit sons/grandchildren/family.
How's that for my life's history it's been a lot more exciting
than milking the cows on the farm in Minn!!!
Mike Parkinson
Marie
and I married the day of graduation and I was assigned to the Defense
Information School and then as a PIO (not PAO) at Nellis AFB from 68-'71.
A transfer to the Pentagon in 71 convinced me
I was not cut out for an AF career and I separated in November of 1973.
While I was at the Pentagon I finished an MA and continued graduate
school after separation. After changing schools each time I was transferred
Marie finally finished her BS at American University while I was at
the Pentagon.
I did not fly in the AF but got a private pilots
license while at the Academy. I still fly and have a Beech Debonair.
After separating in 1973 I began work on a Ph.D. and
Marie began her law degree at the University of Oklahoma. We both graduated
and left OU in 1978. From there we both took jobs in Illinois. I was
a professor at SIU and graduated from law school at SIU in 1987. Marie
was a prosecuting attorney and later started a private practice. I joined
her practice part-time between 1987 and 1999.
In 1999 I retired from SIU and took a job at Texas Tech.
At Tech I became the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in the College
of Mass Communications. At Tech Marie taught political science, constitutional
law and mass communication law.
I was able to retire from Tech in 2009 because they
give credit toward their retirement for military service.
Im continually embarrassed when people ask me
about my academic record at the Academy. I had a 2.45 GPA but became
a career professor with over 100 academic publications including three
books.
After retirement we moved to Colorado Springs and bought
a view with a house attached. Im doing volunteer work for the
Endowment and am president of a local homeowners association. Marie
describes her life as developing the fine art of doing nothing.
Wayne Rowell
Wayne
flew EC-47s out of Phu Cat AFB after pilot training. He returned to
Pease AFB and KC-135's. In 1975 he separated but continued to fly KC-135s
in the ANG out of Forbes and Ellington.
He flew for Continental Airlines out of Denver, El
Paso and Houston. He then transitioned to Southwest Airlines out of
Houston.
At age 55 Wayne was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's
Disease. He is currently in a memory care facility in Houston. His wife,
Charlotte continues to live in Houston.
Dick Ruffing
AF
Assignments
Webb AFB, TX, Undergraduate Pilot Training, 1968-1969
Reese AFB, TX, Instructor T-37, 1970-1972
Lubbock TX,, MBA at Texas Tech University, 1973
Wright Patterson AFB, OH, Engineer Flight Dynamics Laboratory, 1973-1976
Cannon AFB, NM, Pilot F-111D, 1977-1980
Lakenheath AFB, England, Flight Safety Officer and F-111F pilot, 1980-1982
Ramstein AB, Germany, USAFE IG Flight Safety Officer, 1983-1984
Pentagon, VA, Branch Chief Training and Simulation Devices, XOOTD, 1984-1988
POST AF Jobs
ARINC, Annapolis, MD, Engineer and eventually Department Manager. Responsible
for six office locations providing support principally to AF and Army
aviation Special Operations organizations, 1988-2001
Signal Corporation and Preferred Systems Solutions, Patuxent River,
MD. Provided engineering support to the technical director for the Naval
Aviations program office for strike weapons and unmanned aviation. Probably
the most diverse job I ever held. We were working on different technologies
with a variety of organizations almost daily. Also a good reminder that
saying nothing and listening is sometimes the most you can contribute.
Working with people with PhDs who worked in one small technology area
for most of their adult lives was a constant challenge. Fortunately
by then the internet was robust enough to be able to at least become
smart enough to understand what was being said and its significance.
2002-2009
Biggest/most humorous/most influential event I remember from our time
at the Academy
The flight of F-105s doing a low pass over the academy at noon meal
formation just prior to our graduation. Just happened to be slightly
supersonic causing some modest degree of damage to the windows and dining
hall. It was amazing to watch the windows in the Vandenberg Hall stairways
flexing in and out prior to breaking inwards.
I retired from working in November and live in Annapolis, MD. I work
to my schedule, on the things I enjoy, when not shooting or fishing.
Karl Smith
I
was born in Philadelphia, PA, and spent my early years in Virginia;
New Haven, CT; and Staten Island, NY while my father finished school
and started work as an attorney. My formative years (age 8-17) were
spent in Evanston, IL. I entered USAFA from Evanston in 1964 having
been appointment by then Congressman Donald Rumsfeld who later became
Secretary of Defense.
At USAFA, I was in Squadron 24 and then graduated with the Tough
20 Trolls. I attended the University of Colorado, Boulder in the
summer between my 2nd and 1st class year and took pre-med courses my
last year at the Academy. My graduation major was general studies. I
married Alice Phillips shortly after graduation and then attended Northwestern
University Medical School in Chicago, IL from 1968 to 1972 under Air
Force sponsorship. In the Spring of 1972, I attended Flight Surgeons
School in San Antonio, TX. My first child, Quentin was born at Wilford
Hall. Next, I moved to Travis AFB, California for Internship and Residency
in Obstetrics and Gynecology. My second son, Bradley was born at Travis
in 1975. I finished my residency in 1977 and was stationed at Wright-Patterson
AFB, OH where I became divorced. In 1979 I moved to New York City for
training in Gynecologic Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer
Center. In 1981, I moved back to Travis AFB, CA to practice Gyn Oncology
and teach Ob-Gyn residents. During this time I became board certified
in Ob-Gyn and Gyn Oncology. In 1986, I married Elizabeth Dillon, a native
of Long Island, NY. I moved to Lakenheath AFB, Great Britain where I
was Chief of Surgical Services and Chief of Ob-Gyn. I retired from the
USAF in 1988 as an O-6 and moved to Jacksonville, FL.
I initially established a private practice in Gyn Oncology
in Jacksonville, FL based out of Baptist Medical Center, Downtown. My
3rd son, Dillon (1st child with Liz) was born in 1989. My 4th child,
and first daughter, Emma (2nd child with Liz), was born in 1991. I remained
in a solo private practice until about 1999 when I joined a group of
Gyn Oncologists in Jacksonville. I remained with this group until July
2005 when I joined the University of Florida Medical School in Jacksonville
to teach Gyn Oncology and Gyn surgery to UF medical students and Ob-Gyn
Residents. I remain in this position. I have one grandchild, Benjamin,
who was born in 2011 to Brad and Lisa in Washington, DC.
Ken Stewart
During
my second class year I met my wife, Lynn, when I was her escort at the
Norton AFB Debutante Ball. In August of 68 we were married at Edwards
AFB (her father was the base commander), and she has been the glue that
has made all the ups and downs of life bearable.
After pilot training at Craig AFB, AL, and B-52 training
at Castle AFB, CA we settled at Beale AFB, CA. I had one tour at Utapao
RTAFB and managed to become a B-52G aircraft commander right after I
made Captain.
In 1972, being a gung-ho fool, I volunteered for a
PCS combat tour and flew EB-66s out of Korat RTAFB. Fun aircraft--just
a big fighter really. Hairiest moment was over downtown Hanoi in the
middle of the night when I lost complete AC power at the bottom of a
SAM break.
Anyway,
I came back to B-52Gs at Loring AFB, ME where I was lucky enough to
be Chief of Stan Eval and then Squadron Ops Officer. After three winters
in Northern Maine I was sent to the Pentagon to be an exec in Force
Development. I also worked on the National Military Command Structure
Study and the Defense Agency Study. After three years there I realized
that I did not want to do what the generals I worked for did (my apologies
to all our general classmates) so I resigned and went across I-95 to
National Airport to fly B-727s for Eastern Airlines. You might have
noticed that except for the Pentagon and Beale, all my bases have closed
(most of the planes I flew are in the boneyard too - guess that's one
way to notice age).
Flying for Eastern was the best job ever until we were
hijacked by Frank Lorenzo and the airline was looted into bankruptcy.
After
that I moved into sales of information technology, and worked for companies
big and small (International Computer Networks, Nynex Business Systems,
Sears Business Centers, Inacom, back to ICN, and GE Capital). After
Nynex I was in sales management, but after three years at GE I tried
working with an old boss in an executive search firm (headhunting).
When cash flow caught up with me I went back to computers as the Vice
President of Sales and Operations for AvcomEast. In 2011 I once again
decided that was enough and retired. After living in Fairfax, VA for
35 years it was time to move to better weather.
Lynn and I now live in Northern California and work
at tending a small apple orchard, restoring a 65 year old house, and
camping, kayaking and hiking in as many state and national parks in
the West that we can get to. We have a son in Virginia and another one
here in CA near us. I still do a little consulting for my old headhunting
firm, which keeps the old brain working. Come see us anytime - we're
only ten minutes from the beach.
Don Windham
1968-69
Pilot Training, Moody AFB, GA
1970-78 C-130s, Clark AB, Rhein Main AB, USAF Reserves, Eglin AFB
1974-78 MBA, University of West Florida, Pensacola, CPA Orange Park,
FL
1978-86 C-130s, Lockheed Arabia, Riyadh SA
1986-91 B-727 FE, EAL, Miami, PanAm, Berlin FRG
1992-Present Retired, Jacksonville, FL caring for my mother who lived
to be 100.
Married 1981-85 it didnt stick, no children.
Major "Troll" moment in Snakes life:
Having not spoken to Vern McGraw for over 44 years,
I recently was able to remind him of a short conversation that we had
long ago. He did not remember it, but I certainly did maybe as
many as several thousand times!
Back in our senior year, final semester, I signed up
for the new T-41 course. Because I had a high GPA I was assigned as
the only student of a colonel in charge of the overall program. My flying
progress during the first 10 hours was good except for one minor
phase of flight the landing. I became very proficient at the
art of porpoising, bouncing, ballooning, etc. Despite the best instructional
efforts of my colonel instructor, I was never able to perform a normal
landing. He eventually and reluctantly had to give up on me and schedule
me for a final wash-out evaluation with a young captain check pilot.
On the evening before the seemingly inevitable end
of my short flying career, I was dispiritedly walking down the squadron
hallway when I caught a glimpse of Vern in his room at his desk. I knew
that Vern was a private pilot and had quite a few flying hours with
the Aero Club. I also knew that he would lend a sympathetic ear to my
predicament. I told him my problem. After listening to my situation,
he simply asked me if I could perform a normal descent and level off.
No problem, I said. He then suggested that as I flew over
the runway threshold, I should simply perform a level off several inches
above the runway, while smoothly retarding the throttle and using the
far end of the runway and the horizon as my visual reference.
The next day I followed Verns suggestion. All
of my landings were very good and I passed without any problems. The
young captain check pilot appeared perplexed as to why I had been scheduled
for a termination flight. The colonel was equally perplexed when the
captain reported to him how well I had done. And me? I was extremely
relieved to be able to continue in the program.
In just several minutes of conversation, Vern had unknowingly
saved my nascent career in aviation and provided a technique for making
smooth landings (several thousand) for both me and my future students
for years to come. Thanks, Vern
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