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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Sponsor

Honored by:

Randy's parents introduced him early to aviation appreciation, when they moved into a house close to Denver's International Airport. As he grew older, he often watched the planes come and go from far-off places.

Randy's neighbor, a United Airlines Captain, helped foster Randy's interests by taking him for a ride in a single engine airplane and bringing him to the United Airlines hangars. During later visits to the hangar, Randy got to sit in some of the aircrafts and imagine flying around the world.

During Randy's senior year, he enrolled in an aerospace class that taught basic aircraft design, construction of a flyable model, airport design, and basic flying skills in a "Link Trainer".

In college, Randy enrolled at Emery Flight School in Greeley, Colorado. After receiving his multi-engine rating he received an "invitation letter" from Uncle Sam. This draft notice opened the next chapter for Randy when he was accepted into the Army's Warrant Officer Flight Training Program.

After Flight School, he completed a tour in Vietnam flying aircrafts. After his tour he transferred to the helicopter training center at Fort Rucker, AL. His next assignment was in Stuttgart Germany as part of a VIP Flight Detachment. His duties included providing back up support to Presidents Nixon and Ford, transporting Vice President Rockefeller, General Alexander Haig, the Secretary's of State and Defense, and Admiral Sir Peter Hill Norton of the United Kingdom on his retirement flight.

At the end of a five year tour Randy returned to the U.S and his Unit was using the same United Airlines hangars! Randy left the Army after 8+ years to accept three corporate positions, including serving as Chief Pilot for a corporation that was (later) based, again, in the United hangars.

He later became an airline pilot for America West. He held a position as Chief Pilot and was involved with the ALPA Pilot Union. Randy has enjoyed his 24-year career in the commercial industry, and plans on retiring in the Fall of 2013.

Randy's love of flying has been his life-long passion. He's encouraged countless others to pursue their own dreams of an aviation career. Randy feels blessed to have provided years of safe air travel through his 40-plus years as a pilot.