duPont Hall of Fame

From: "Carolyn Gentry"
Date: March 12, 2016 at 1:43:37 PM EST
To: Judy DuBose
Subject: DuPont Hall of Fame

Judy,
I am attaching a brief bio of William George Goodyear for the DuPont Hall of Fame.
His accomplishments as the president of the first student council at DuPont and his lLater record of accomplishment in the Air Force are reasons that he should be included.Bill was a charismatic leader who loved DuPont throughout his life. Please see that this is directed to whomever is handling this portion of the anniversary celebration.
 
Thank you. 
Carolyn Gentry
To: 75th Anniversary Committee

From: Carolyn S. Gentry, DuPont Class of 1956, 731-5657

RE: Nomination for the Wall of Fame

William George Goodyear was the first president of the first student council of Alfred I. DuPont’s first graduation Class of 1955. At DuPont, he distinguished himself not only in student government but also Hi-Y, dramatics, Thespian Society, D Club, Senior Fellows, Key club and football manager. He was the “Voice of DuPont” on the recording that supplemented the first Alidupan yearbook.

William George Goodyear was born in Cordele, Georgia, and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. After graduating from DuPont High School, he subsequently graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and then from Pilot Training. During the Vietnam era, Bill flew over 50 B-52 bomber missions and many T-39 combat zone missions. In 1972 he received the Bronze Star Medal. He was also selected personally by General John Vogt, the 7th AF Commander, to be his aid-de-camp and personal pilot.

Bill’s non-pilot Air Force career achievements were recognized with the highest awards, including selection for the faculty of the Air Command and Staff College. He retired from service as a full Colonel in 1984 with a “chest full of medals” from his years as combat pilot and high level Air Force staff officer. After a year as a gold miner in Arizona, he became an SES civilian in the Pentagon and then a general manager of a Florida real estate development. In California he began a 15-year post-service career with Northrop-Grumman and its B-2 stealth bomber. At the time of his death in 2011, Bill had been working for some time on a biography of General Vogt.

In 1954 while a student of the late Frances Smith Brewster, a DuPont teacher of history and civics, Bill and Mrs. Brewster developed a friendship with William H. Browne, a conservationist who gave his 361-acre estate to The Nature Conservancy that is now named the Theodore Roosevelt Preserve. Bill left extensive research and first-hand accounts of his friendship with Mr. Browne. In Bill’s later life, he spoke frequently on Mr. Browne’s valuable gift to conservation.