US Air Force General. He joined the Air Force as an aviation cadet after graduating from Otterbein College (Westerville, Ohio) in 1950. After receiving his pilot wings, he flew F-51 and F-86 aircraft for the 431st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan, and also at Wheeler Air Base, Libya, in the 1950s. In 1966, after several assignments as an instructor, operations officer, and aide-de-camp, he was assigned to the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, where he flew 100 fighter combat missions over North Viet Nam and 27 fighter combat missions over Laos. After his Southeast Asia tour was completed, he was assigned to Headquarters, United States Air Force in Washington DC. From there he transferred to Saudi Arabia as the chief of the United States Training Mission. He was then transferred to Yokota Air Base, Japan, where he was the commander of 5th Air Force and United States Forces in Japan. He was then assigned to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where he served as the commander of America's and NATO's air power in Europe. In November 1984, he assumed the duties as the Commander in Chief, United States Air Forces in Europe/Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe. He was promoted to the rank of general on 1 November 1984 and retired from active duty in 1987 with 37 years of military service. He was a command pilot with over 8,000 flying hours in 38 types of aircraft to his credit. While in the Air Force, he obtained his master's degree in public administration from George Washington University. He was also a graduate of Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, Air War College, and the Royal College of Defense Studies in London, England. Among his awards and decorations are the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal with 12 oak leaf clusters. He died of cancer in the Malcolm Grow Medical Center at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.