Zane Hawkins:
CLASS OF 1978
![Zane Hawkins's Classmates® Profile Photo](https://images.classmates.com/pho103/V/r/Y/I/129623286_display.jpg)
Russell High SchoolClass of 1978
Russell, KY
Dobie High SchoolClass of 1978
Houston, TX
Zane's Story
Life
After moving away from Russell Kentucky when I was in Jr. High it was on to Houston Texas. I still remember many friends from KY and have seen a few, but wonder where many others are. Such as Pam Powell, George Armstrong, Shane Straight just to mention a few. I visited Bervely Wheeler just last summer on a motorcycle trip. It was very nice to visit with her parents and see her growing children/family. As far as J. Frank Dobie high and Houston, I have kept in touch with some of my closest friends, Steve King, Charles Edworthy, Darlena Campbell and more. I have always wondered what happen to Cathy Cree (Sr '79). She was a good buddy and I wish I could find out where she is. After high school it was the Army for me, which you can read in that section. But now it is life with the wife (Viktoria) and 3 kiddos getting to that magical teenage time. (So far so good, keep your fingers crossed). We live in Colorado, but long for Texas, maybe after the kids are grown, we can come back. But between them and the job, it is Colorado for now. We enjoy the 270 + days of sunshine here and the outdoor activities. Between camping, hiking 14'000 foot mountians and the shooting sports we do, it is a very full life. My job allows me to have flexibility to do many things, but also see alot of Colorado and the surrounding area.
Military
I enlisted in the Army in 1980 as a helicopter mechanic. After basic (where I was highest scoring marksman) it was on to Korea. All the time applying for Flight School. When I left Korea to Ft. Campbell...Expand for more
it was to a newly formed unit Task Force 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. I did many things in that unit that people only dream about, but many today also have nightmares from also. I went to flight school from there and into CH-47s and Europe. While remaining in Europe for 9 years I completed the instructor and Instrument Flight examiners course back in the states. I also participated in Iraq, and Somalia deployments. Upon return to Georgia in the states I went to invade Haiti with the 82nd Airborne. After Georgia was Alaska. There I was the unit SIP/IFE and High Altitude Rescue Team instructor pilot. After 18 years in CH-47s the Army sent me to Ft. Rucker to evaluate students in the Armys smallest helicopter the TH-67, in the instrument training phase. I retired in 2001, and went straight to my job of flying EMS helicopters in Colorado.
New job-
Changing over to civilian life was really different. The amazing people I work with in the Air Life of Denver flight program are the trend setters and examples for the entire EMS community. I had a hard time when the war started....the first time in my adult life I had not been involved in some way with our countries military efforts, and the guilt was deep. Sitting at home, comfortable, when you know first hand what some of our neighbors are going through overseas. But seeing the soliders coming home, and the war winding down, with the hope of victory and honor for all these young men and women is a dream I hope to continue. Their sacrifice has been treamendous.
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Reunions
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Photos
![17'000 feet in a helicopter](https://images.classmates.com/pho113/k/2/q/4/129634377_display.jpg)
![14'700 feet on Mt. McKinley](https://images.classmates.com/pho115/V/C/w/9/129634355_display.jpg)
![Denali Alaska](https://images.classmates.com/pho113/G/C/G/o/129634329_display.jpg)
![14 floor helipad](https://images.classmates.com/pho113/K/v/U/j/129623347_display.jpg)
![xmas al](https://images.classmates.com/pho103/V/r/Y/I/129623286_display.jpg)
![Out shooting](https://images.classmates.com/pho213/E/x/g/7/126480527_display.jpg)
![Out near Las Vegas](https://images.classmates.com/pho207/h/U/P/y/121922262_display.jpg)
![50 BMG](https://images.classmates.com/pho205/T/v/x/d/121922232_display.jpg)
![Hurry up and wait.](https://images.classmates.com/pho201/U/F/i/d/6343029_display.jpg)
![A little fog?](https://images.classmates.com/pho102/Q/J/H/1/6342979_display.jpg)
![Another day in the mines](https://images.classmates.com/pho201/j/x/c/h/6342942_display.jpg)
![To the mountains](https://images.classmates.com/pho102/0/Y/A/r/6342904_display.jpg)
![Flatlands](https://images.classmates.com/pho101/z/7/a/P/6342861_display.jpg)
![Ouch....](https://images.classmates.com/pho101/u/L/v/E/6342826_display.jpg)
![On the job](https://images.classmates.com/pho201/W/V/b/a/6342799_display.jpg)
![Pot of Gold?](https://images.classmates.com/pho201/2/A/g/d/6342769_display.jpg)
![Zane Hawkins' Classmates profile album](https://images.classmates.com/pho201/o/n/o/n/6342096_display.jpg)