Some of our 72-09 colleagues will join us
The Class of 72-09 and L Flight - back in the day
Rick Brandt - Class of 72-09
Rick was in the class before us at Vance AFB. He and his wife Toni remained in Enid as Rick was assigned as a T-38 Instructor. Rick is now a retired Airline Pilot and he and Toni live in central Florida. The photo shown is of Rick, Toni, and their granddaughter.
That "Steely Eyed Killer" Rick
The Brandts - back then
Rick's precious family - including his venerable truck
A lot of people will remember our dog "Piddle"
Check out what Rick Brandt is doing these days - He is in business and has his own website
Not being one to just settle into retirement (like some of us), Rick is an independent distributor for the LifeVantage products and business opportunities. And he wants to offer the same opportunity to all of "the best pilots who ever flew the skies" - so check out his website and read up on the benefits of the product line.
Below is the text of an email Rick sent with the details - check it out :
Click here: LifeVantage - Replicated
Check out the info at the above site.
For independent peer-to-peer studies go to www.Pubmed.gov and search Protandim for the 11 studies.
We have 4 patents, although there are a couple of prescription medicines that mimic Protandim but are used for specific diseases.
Everyone over 20 should be taking this product for the rest of their lives. Also, keep in mind that it is a great business. I have a vision of a bunch of pilots taking over the majority of company sales.
Rick and Toni Brandt
15 Live Oak Ave
Yalaha, Fl. 34797
Independent LifeVantage Distributor
www.mylifevantage.com/maxpower
407-758-4871/4870
Below is the text of an email Rick sent with the details - check it out :
Click here: LifeVantage - Replicated
Check out the info at the above site.
For independent peer-to-peer studies go to www.Pubmed.gov and search Protandim for the 11 studies.
We have 4 patents, although there are a couple of prescription medicines that mimic Protandim but are used for specific diseases.
Everyone over 20 should be taking this product for the rest of their lives. Also, keep in mind that it is a great business. I have a vision of a bunch of pilots taking over the majority of company sales.
Rick and Toni Brandt
15 Live Oak Ave
Yalaha, Fl. 34797
Independent LifeVantage Distributor
www.mylifevantage.com/maxpower
407-758-4871/4870
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In Memory of Stetson Cowan
Stets Cowan was a graduate of the class just ahead of us - 72-09. Many of the 73-01 class were graduates of the Air Force Academy, as was Stets. As well, a number of 73-01 grads stayed on at Vance AFB as instructors, as did Stets. So, we knew Stetson Cowan well - and really would have been pleased to have him join us at our reunion. But his health failed him and he passed on in 2008. Stets will be missed this August.
Rick Brandt (above) and Stets were best of friends, and remained close over the years. Rick sent the following email and photo:
I tried to get Tess to write a memorial but she was getting on a plane to do church work in Africa. This is a picture from the early 2000's with his wife Tess and her niece Theresa.
Stets was without a doubt the man with the most integrity that I have ever met. He was a gentleman in every respect and he was a person I looked up to. I only wish there were more people like him in the world.
I love this picture. He was fighting liver cancer at the time but look at that smile. I think he had more hair on his face than on his head. He always looked like he was up to something. Stets passed away in the summer of 2008.
My wife ,Toni, and I spent a lot of time with him water skiing, partying, having him over for dinner, etc. He is missed.
Rick and Toni Brandt
Rick Brandt (above) and Stets were best of friends, and remained close over the years. Rick sent the following email and photo:
I tried to get Tess to write a memorial but she was getting on a plane to do church work in Africa. This is a picture from the early 2000's with his wife Tess and her niece Theresa.
Stets was without a doubt the man with the most integrity that I have ever met. He was a gentleman in every respect and he was a person I looked up to. I only wish there were more people like him in the world.
I love this picture. He was fighting liver cancer at the time but look at that smile. I think he had more hair on his face than on his head. He always looked like he was up to something. Stets passed away in the summer of 2008.
My wife ,Toni, and I spent a lot of time with him water skiing, partying, having him over for dinner, etc. He is missed.
Rick and Toni Brandt
Stets, wife Tess, and niece Theresa
Below is the Obituary written on Stetson's passing:
Colonel Stetson R. Cowan, 59, of Mesa, took his last flight Sunday, July 6, 2008.
He was born on December 16, 1948 in Eastland, Texas, to William Kenneth Cowan and Eleanor Rowles Cowan. Cowan graduated from Colorado City High School in Colorado City, Texas in 1967. He graduated from the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO., in 1971. He went on to pilot training at Vance AFB in Enid, Oklahoma, then Randolph AFB, Texas, for pilot instructor training. He
flew T-38's and other fixed-wing aircraft until he decided helicopters were more fun. Other assignments included: Hurlburt Field, FL., Howard AFB, Panama, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. He was then chosen to attend the U.S. Navy's Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland, then on to Edwards AFB where he flew many experimental aircraft and then taught at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. While there, he received his Master's Degree from Golden Gate University, and became a member of The Society of Experimental Test Pilots. (SETP).
In 1989, he became the Commander of the 6514th Test Squadron at Hill AFB, near Ogden, Utah. His last Air Force assignment was Wright-Patterson AFB, in Dayton, Ohio. After 2 years of Ohio weather, he was thrilled to be offered a job at The Boeing Company, Mesa, where he was the happiest as a Test Pilot for the Apache Helicopter. He also worked on the unmanned X-50A Dragonfly, and then as a Systems Safety Engineer. Throughout his fight with cancer, he continued to work at Boeing until the very end. Colonel Cowan was a member of the Order of Daedalians, Flight 82, Mesa.
He was happiest around helicopters, airplanes, a golf course, family and all his best buddies.
Cowan is survived by his wife of almost 19 years, Major Tess Taft Cowan,(USAF, Ret) and their niece, Theresa Bennett. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Cowan's favorite church, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Mesa, where he served as the Senior Warden.
Bunker Mortuary is handling the cremation, and services will be held this Saturday, July 12 at 10:00 am, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 322 N. Horne,(just south of University Drive) Mesa, 85203. Military friends are welcome to wear their uniforms, and others are welcome to wear red or blue, for Military Honors.
He fought pancreatic/liver/stomach cancer for more than 6 years and never complained. Colonel Cowan died at home, under the care of Hospice of the Valley and his family. Rest eternal grant to him, and let light perpetual shine upon him.
He was born on December 16, 1948 in Eastland, Texas, to William Kenneth Cowan and Eleanor Rowles Cowan. Cowan graduated from Colorado City High School in Colorado City, Texas in 1967. He graduated from the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO., in 1971. He went on to pilot training at Vance AFB in Enid, Oklahoma, then Randolph AFB, Texas, for pilot instructor training. He
flew T-38's and other fixed-wing aircraft until he decided helicopters were more fun. Other assignments included: Hurlburt Field, FL., Howard AFB, Panama, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. He was then chosen to attend the U.S. Navy's Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland, then on to Edwards AFB where he flew many experimental aircraft and then taught at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. While there, he received his Master's Degree from Golden Gate University, and became a member of The Society of Experimental Test Pilots. (SETP).
In 1989, he became the Commander of the 6514th Test Squadron at Hill AFB, near Ogden, Utah. His last Air Force assignment was Wright-Patterson AFB, in Dayton, Ohio. After 2 years of Ohio weather, he was thrilled to be offered a job at The Boeing Company, Mesa, where he was the happiest as a Test Pilot for the Apache Helicopter. He also worked on the unmanned X-50A Dragonfly, and then as a Systems Safety Engineer. Throughout his fight with cancer, he continued to work at Boeing until the very end. Colonel Cowan was a member of the Order of Daedalians, Flight 82, Mesa.
He was happiest around helicopters, airplanes, a golf course, family and all his best buddies.
Cowan is survived by his wife of almost 19 years, Major Tess Taft Cowan,(USAF, Ret) and their niece, Theresa Bennett. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Cowan's favorite church, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Mesa, where he served as the Senior Warden.
Bunker Mortuary is handling the cremation, and services will be held this Saturday, July 12 at 10:00 am, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 322 N. Horne,(just south of University Drive) Mesa, 85203. Military friends are welcome to wear their uniforms, and others are welcome to wear red or blue, for Military Honors.
He fought pancreatic/liver/stomach cancer for more than 6 years and never complained. Colonel Cowan died at home, under the care of Hospice of the Valley and his family. Rest eternal grant to him, and let light perpetual shine upon him.
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Mike Smith - Class of 72-09
Although I volunteered for B-52s in pilot training—the IPs sent me to Willy instead as a T-37 FAIP to recover! After three years in Phoenix, AZ, off to Kalamazoo, Michigan and AF Recruiting Service. I realized my boyhood dream of seeing the world when I began flying the C-141 out of Charleston, SC in 1978. During that assignment, my wife Becky, was diagnosed with Leukemia and died a few months later. Our 72-09 classmates, Dee Kennedy, Greg Swecker, Randy Leavitt, Gerry Wempe and Tom Dour were all groomsmen at our wedding during our T-38 training days and will likely remember her.
In 1981, an upperclassman from USAFA introduced me to a 7th generation Floridian who made me promise to bring her home to Tallahassee after an Air Force career. Elizabeth and I were married on May 29th, 1982—our fifth date! Our children, Mike, Jr. and Jenny were 4 and 22 months old—and Elizabeth and her family fully embraced the three Smiths. The 30 years since then have been extraordinary.
I moved Elizabeth from Charleston to Montgomery, AL, Fairfax, VA, Columbus, MS and back to DC until 1995. Two Pentagon assignments, Student Squadron commander at Columbus, and AF Chief of Staff Chair at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces truly gave us memories of a lifetime. Only five years later than promised, I was fortunate to become Professor of Aerospace Science and Air Force ROTC commander at Florida State University and bring our Tallahassee Lassie back home.
Since retiring from the Air Force in 1997, an Army ROTC buddy and I have built several organizations at FSU. We ran Florida’s youth anti-tobacco program for 5 years and have worked to keep FSU off the proverbial “party school” list! Like a true joint operation, we built several centers with retired military folks from every branch of service—gaining expertise in seaport security, drug abuse prevention, and biomedical research. Our F-15 WSO taught state auditors how to examine funeral homes, crematories, mortuaries and cemeteries. Colonel Steve Brooks (USA) and I gained a reputation as the military retiree employers of last resort in Tallahassee—and what a ride it’s been!
The last five years, I have served on the staff of the Florida State University College of Medicine. The Dean is a high school friend and West Point Class of 1971 grad—to say “God works in mysterious ways” is an understatement.
Our daughter, Jenny and first grandchild Brayden live with us here in Tallahassee. Our son Mike and his beautiful wife, Jenny, live in Atlanta and are expecting our second grandchild.
Thanks to all Truckers for including the Hot Dogs of 72-09 in the reunion. Looking forward to catching up on the past 40 years!
Below are some photos of Mike and family:
In 1981, an upperclassman from USAFA introduced me to a 7th generation Floridian who made me promise to bring her home to Tallahassee after an Air Force career. Elizabeth and I were married on May 29th, 1982—our fifth date! Our children, Mike, Jr. and Jenny were 4 and 22 months old—and Elizabeth and her family fully embraced the three Smiths. The 30 years since then have been extraordinary.
I moved Elizabeth from Charleston to Montgomery, AL, Fairfax, VA, Columbus, MS and back to DC until 1995. Two Pentagon assignments, Student Squadron commander at Columbus, and AF Chief of Staff Chair at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces truly gave us memories of a lifetime. Only five years later than promised, I was fortunate to become Professor of Aerospace Science and Air Force ROTC commander at Florida State University and bring our Tallahassee Lassie back home.
Since retiring from the Air Force in 1997, an Army ROTC buddy and I have built several organizations at FSU. We ran Florida’s youth anti-tobacco program for 5 years and have worked to keep FSU off the proverbial “party school” list! Like a true joint operation, we built several centers with retired military folks from every branch of service—gaining expertise in seaport security, drug abuse prevention, and biomedical research. Our F-15 WSO taught state auditors how to examine funeral homes, crematories, mortuaries and cemeteries. Colonel Steve Brooks (USA) and I gained a reputation as the military retiree employers of last resort in Tallahassee—and what a ride it’s been!
The last five years, I have served on the staff of the Florida State University College of Medicine. The Dean is a high school friend and West Point Class of 1971 grad—to say “God works in mysterious ways” is an understatement.
Our daughter, Jenny and first grandchild Brayden live with us here in Tallahassee. Our son Mike and his beautiful wife, Jenny, live in Atlanta and are expecting our second grandchild.
Thanks to all Truckers for including the Hot Dogs of 72-09 in the reunion. Looking forward to catching up on the past 40 years!
Below are some photos of Mike and family: