Inducted Class of 2019
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Played basketball freshman and sophomore years, football, junior and senior years, golf team freshman – senior years
Graduated Morehead State University 1973 with a BS in Industrial Arts, minor Military Science.
Commissioned United States Air Force 1973
Started active duty July 1974
Graduated USAF pilot training 1975
Selected to fly the C-141 aircraft out of Charleston S.C.
Aircraft commander C-141
Flew missions around the world to include the Mideast, Europe, Africa, South America, North America, and Asia.
Flew evacuation missions into Tehran, Iran in 1979 with the overthrow of the Shah of Iran, flew the last US flight out of Tehran evacuating the last of American personnel the day before the airport was overrun by Koemeni supporters. Accepted a position at Wright Patterson AFB with the 4950th Test Wing flying both the C-141 and T-39 in test and evaluation and as a instructor pilot. Did the initial testing of the Global Positioning System(GPS) in conjunction with the FAA. When only 6 satellites were in orbit. Did testing on ROCs, (range only correlation system) for the space shuttle. Completed USC’s safety and accident investigation school
Was a accident investigator in the USAF Worked on the safety review for one of the first jet engine drones. Active duty from July 1974-October 1984. Participated in operation Desert Storm as a war planner at Air Force Systems Command at Andrews Air Force Base. Retired from the Air Force reserves at Wright Patterson AFB as a Lt Col in war planning.
Began flying with United Airlines in 1985. Flew the 727, 737, 757, 767, 777, and the 747 Was a line check airman/instructor pilot in the 757/767 fleet giving training and evaluations to pilots coming into the fleet.
Captain on: 757, 767, 777, and 747. Completed the Airline pilot associations accident investigation course and served as an accident investigator for ALPA and United Airlines. Coached soccer at the recreation level through the elite level for 16 years in both Ohio and Virginia. Started the girls soccer program in Fauquier county, VA, the first and still existing girls soccer league there.
Retired from United Airlines in 2016 with over 20,000 hours of flying.
An active member of Southside Church of the Nazarene and a leader in their Celebrate Recovery program.
Still married to my high school sweetheart Bev Riechers Rath coming up on our 47th anniversary. We have two children, Krista and Jake and 5 wonderful grandchildren, Hannah, Alex, Kaelyn, Theron, and Abigail all living in Virginia.
Hobbies: golf, woodworking, sawing lumber, our lab puppies Jaxson and Toby, and reading.