More than 300 active volunteers were honored recently during the Fourteenth Annual Volunteer Appreciation Banquet at the U.S. Air Force Museum.
Kevin Steinke of Centerville received the coveted red jacket from Museum Director Richard L. Uppstrom as the 1995 Volunteer of the Year.
Mr. Steinke began his volunteer service with the Museum in July 1993 and already has accumulated more than 700 hours of service. He assists at the Lobby Information Desk, helps in the volunteer office, and on occasion has aided and substituted for the Directorate Office's secretary. With his enthusiasm and a keen interest in aviation, Mr. Steinke is a valuable asset to the Museum Volunteer Program.
Other nominees for Volunteer of the Year, officially called the Director's Award, were Lisette Clemons of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base; Dwight Fry of Englewood; Mary Jackson of Dayton; and Major General Charles Metcalf, USAF (retired) of Oakwood.
Also recognized were volunteers who have reached the 1,000 hour level during the past year. They are Robert Clyburn of Lebanon; Russ Crockett of Centerville; Bud Decker of Centerville; Ed Foster of Dayton; Dwight Fry of Englewood; Bill Hibner of Riverside; Robert Lea of Dayton; Clyde Parker of Beavercreek; John Patrick of Dayton; Thomas Thacker of Fairborn; and Marti Ventolo of Enon.
Special recognition went to Jody Bumgardner of Dayton and Homer Hildebrand of Tipp City for more than 5,000 hours of service to the Museum.
The Museum's operation is dependent on volunteer support. 362 days a year including holidays and weekends. Last year volunteers provided over 40,000 hours of support and interpreted the Air Force story to approximately one million visitors. Pioneered in 1972 with the Officers' Wives Club as the first organized volunteer group, the Volunteer Program currently has over 300 active volunteers who assist almost every division.
All volunteers attending the banquet were guests of the Air Force Museum Foundation and each received mementos of the occasion.