Paul Nafziger:
CLASS OF 1955
Hopedale Elementary SchoolClass of 1955
Hopedale, IL
Goshen CollegeClass of 1963
Goshen, IN
Hopedale High SchoolClass of 1959
Hopedale, IL
Paul's Story
Robert Springer asked what I've been doing, so here goes. Hope it's not too boring!
After high school and about 1 1/2 years of college, I joined the Air Force, who sent me back to finish college. From there, pilot training and eventually Test Pilot School. I finally earned an MS in Industrial Management. I flew many airplanes during my career, including fighters, trainers, tankers, transports, bombers, helicopters, light airplanes, gliders, hot air balloons, and even the Goodyear Blimp (about 75 types in all). I spent much of my career in classified programs and a considerable amount of time at a classified location. I did spend one year supporting Special Forces in Vietnam. I also managed to get in on the first of the 1967 mideast war, evacuating Americans from Jordan as the Israelis attacked. I retired as a Lt. Col. after 22 years and joined Hughes Aircraft in 1984, where I helped develop the B-2 bomber radar.
I married a saint in 1962--at least she must be a saint since we're still married. Gloria and I met at my sister's wedding, where she was flower girl (6 years old). We met again in college in Indiana. Got back together again when I was stationed in Illinois and got married at Chanute AFB. Brett was born during the Cuban crisis, when I sent Gloria back to Illinois from Savannah, GA, since there was ...Expand for more
a possibility I would be part of an invasion force. Lisa was born when we were at pilot training in Arizona. We've lived in way too many places to list (about 22, Gloria says). Brett and Michele (5 children and 1 grandchild) live in Chicago, where he works for Hewlett-Packard. Lisa and Don Roberts (3 children) reside in Pleasanton, CA, where Don is a nuclear physicist at Lawrence-Livermore laboratory and Lisa is a stay-at-home mom, after 10 years as a computer scientist.
Gloria spends most of her time taking care of the "ranch", about 50 acres in the Tehachapi Mountains in California. We have all kinds of beasts, including deer, elk, bears (shot one), mountain lions, coyotes (shot several), Russian Boars (shot one), raccoons, quail, snakes (shot several), plus many others. It's a beautiful spot and you're all welcome to stop by when you're in California. We're just finished a new house and plan to keep the old quaint cottage as a guest house, so there's plenty of room. Gloria says this is the last place we'll live and I'm fine with that!
I can't seem to retire--tried it three times and I keep going back to work. My latest is flying a few test flights for Kitplanes magazine. I love to fly and Gloria and I fly small airplanes when I'm not flying airplanes for work. I'll probably fly until the FAA chains me down.
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