LtCol Roy E. Keck USAF (Ret.)

Lt Col Roy E. Keck was a major contributor and active participant in furthering the cause of aviation for 40 years. He served as a pilot in the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1954 to 1974. Most of his years were spent flying rescue helicopters (H-19, H-21 Workhorse, HH-43B Huskie, HH-3E Jolly Green Giant, and H-1 Huey) with a few years of fixed-wing time (the C-45, C-47, T-28, T-34, T-33, and T-39).

While flying helicopters for the Air Force he flew into harm’s way many times to save the lives of those caught in life threatening situations. Roy flew his H-21 to assist in the recovery from the Yellowstone earthquake of 1959. He also piloted the rescue of Eskimos trapped with their dogs on the breaking ice of the Yukon River, and rescued other pilots shot down over enemy territory in Southeast Asia.

In addition to flying, he also served as an Air Force Agent for Air Force One during the Nixon Administration and Chief Flying Safety Officer at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. During his military career he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Air Medals.

He continued his service in aviation by working for the United States Forest Service from 1975 to 1994 as the Regional Aviation Safety Manager. He was involved in investigating nearly 40 aircraft accidents for the US Forest Service. He resides (2003) in Layton, Utah with Maxine, his wife of 50 years.