Barry Pegram:  

I joined the USAF shortly after graduating from Page High School in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1961. After completion of basic training and police school, was assigned to the Strategic Air Command Combat Defense Force at Hunter AFB in Savannah, Georgia. During this time, also served temporary duty assignments in Spain and Newfoundland. With a little over a year left in my enlistment was sent on a remote assignment to Clear, Alaska. I received an Honorable Discharge from the USAF in 1965 and began the rest of my life. I joined the Alaska State Troopers and advanced to a position as District Commander of the Matanuska Valley. This is the area just north of Anchorage which included the Denali National Park, home of Mount McKinley. While in this position, received a letter of commendation from J. Edgar Hoover of the FBI for apprehending a bandit that had pulled off the largest bank robbery in Oregon history. Found myself involved in some exciting, interesting and precarious situations during this chapter of my life. I worked with some great men during this time. In all my business and professional life, the men I have met and held in the highest esteem were those men who wore the uniform of the Alaska State Troopers. I left the Troopers to accept the position as Chief of Police in Kenai, Alaska. While I was Chief, I was afforded the opportunity to attend the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy. I was proud to have been a graduating member of the 99th session. While Police Chief served as Vice-President of the Chiefs of Police Association and was also on the Governors Highway Safety committee. The thrill of helping build the Trans-Alaska pipeline was my next adventure; was hired as an area manager in security and shortly thereafter was moved to operations manager of security for the project. This was an exciting event as the Alaska pipeline was built across, under, over and thru some of the most difficult terrain on Gods planet. I met some memorable characters that left lasting impressions and became lifelong friends. While in Alaska, flew airplanes, raced snow-machines, started a family and tried to keep from freezing to death. I saw temperatures as high as 90 degrees and as low as 72 degrees below zero. Departed Alaska in 1979 to develop fast food restaurants in and around Montgomery, Alabama. I built and operated 10 Burger King and other non-affiliated restaurants in central Alabama; served a number of years on the Burger King Business Planning Council and various marketing committees. These restaurants were sold and I retired in 1999. While in Montgomery, played an active role in our Methodist church, serving a number of years on the administrative board. The Salvation Army was also an interest of mine and serve...Expand for more