SJR 154

SJR154 193998-1 By Senators Whatley and Dial RFD: First Read: 28-MAR-18 193998-1:n:03/27/2018:JEC/jec LSA2018-1545 COMMENDING COLONEL WILLIAM R. BASS FOR EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE TO THE CIVIL AIR PATROL. WHEREAS, we take great pride and pleasure in commending Colonel William R. Bass for extraordinary service to the Civil Air Patrol; and WHEREAS, Colonel William R. Bass embarked on his distinguished service with the Civil Air Patrol in July 1949 as a member of the Sarasota-Bradenton Cadet Squadron; upon completing the cadet program, he earned the Certificate of Proficiency with all options and served as cadet commander until his transfer to Michigan Wing; he was instrumental in organizing the Allegan Composite Squadron, was promoted to C/Major, and served as cadet commander until his return to Florida in 1953; he joined the Bradenton Cadet Squadron as a senior member and assisted with the cadet program, before returning to Michigan and resuming his assistance with the Allegan Squadron in late 1955; and WHEREAS, while maintaining membership with CAP, he served as a naval reservist for eight years, volunteered for active duty in 1956, and served for three years, two of those years aboard a guided missile cruiser; after his release from active duty, he returned to Florida and joined the Canaveral Composite Squadron and assumed responsibility for the cadet program; he was a member of the range operations group, serving first as an Instrumentation Operations Coordinator and later as a Test Operations Controller; he worked his way through commercial and military operations to become a member of the elite six-man launch command team for the Apollo Program; he later managed 35-plus engineers at Kennedy Space Center who devised the plans and schedules for the world-wide conversion of the Saturn Program to the Shuttle Program; and WHEREAS, the Canaveral Squadron was recognized as one of the top performing units in Florida Wing, and William R. Bass was asked to become the Group Six Director of Cadets, a position he held until becoming Deputy for Cadets, Florida Wing; he had the distinction of developing the wing's first Cadet Command and Staff School and serving as its commander; he mentored some of the nation's first Spaatz cadets while simultaneously earning the Senior Certificate of Proficiency, the highest senior training award at the time; and WHEREAS, his extensive record of excellence includes serving as a Senior Escort Officer for the Jet Orientation Course at Perrin Air Force Base, the FAA Orientation Course in Oklahoma City, and the Space Age Orientation Course at Chanute Air Force Base, hosting three International Air Cadet Exchanges, and several groups from other wings, including the Middle East Region Girls Exchange, serving as Commander, Sector B, Vice Commander, Commander, Florida Wing, becoming active in counterdrug operations at Alabama Wing and directing its program, being selected as Counterdrug Officer of the Year for the Southeast Region in 2009 and being selected CDO of the Year for Alabama Wing in 2010, assuming command of Alabama Wing, and serving as Vice Commander and Wing Director of Operations at Alabama Wing; and WHEREAS, among his many awards and honors, he earned ibbon awards with numerous bronze and silver clasps; among them are the Distinguished Service Medal, Exceptional Service (2), Meritorious Service (3), National Commander's Citation (2), Unit Citation (16+), Commander's Commendation (3), and many others; he was selected as Alabama Wing's Senior Member of the Year for 2013 and as Southeast Region Senior Member of the Year for 2013, was inducted into Alabama Wing's Hall of Honor as a Legacy Member at the 2015 Alabama Wing Conference, was dubbed a "green tab" officer and awarded the U.S. Army's Volunteer Service Medal by Colonel Jason Altieri, Commander, 110th Aviation Brigade, Fort Rucker and Vice Chairman of Civil Air Patrol's Board of Governors, and was awarded the Frank G, Brewer Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2017 Alabama Wing Conference; he is a 50-year member of CAP, Life Member of the American Radio Relay League (W4LFC), and Benefactor Life Member of NRA; and WHEREAS, for nearly seven decades, he has earned widespread respect for the commitment and capability he brought to every challenge while compiling an outstanding record of leadership; now therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That Colonel William R. Bass is commended for extraordinary service to the Civil Air Patrol, and this resolution is offered in highest tribute and deepest appreciation on behalf of the citizens of the State of Alabama.