CAPITAL CLOSE-UP

Leonia, N.J., he is an Air Force veteran of World War
II, Korea and Vietnam, with impressive credentials of
his own.
Boyd served as a squadron adjutant, detachment
and squadron commander, management engineer and
jet fighter radar intercept officer for more than 28
years with the Air Force, from which he retired as a
major. In the Korean War, he flew with the 318th
Fighter Interceptor Squadron, which was the first Air
Force fighter squadron stationed 900 miles from the
North Pole. Boyd holds the record for flying 58 hours
and 28 minutes as a combat radar observer during a
one-month period in the Lockheed F-94 Starfire, a jet
fighter interceptor.
During the 1970s, Boyd served on the Air Force
committee that designed the Race Relations Institute,
now known as the Department of Defense Equal
Opportunity Management Institute located at Patrick
Air Force Base, Fla.
Outstanding civilian service
Indeed, both Boyd and Gray have made significant
contributions to the welfare of their country through
their military and civilian careers. And even though
they barely know each other, they are also linked
today as active members of CAP.
Boyd, 80, helped develop the legislation for creation
of the Kansas Department of Civil Air Patrol in
1985. In 1996 he was appointed director of the
department and in 2000 became commander of the
Kansas Wing and was promoted to the grade of
colonel.
Boyd served on the CAP Constitution and Bylaws
Committee that recommended creation of the Board
of Governors. He recommended the continuation of
CAP’s National Executive Committee and the
National Board.
Today, Boyd, like Gray, is active at schools and
other organizations around the country, speaking
about the significance of the Tuskegee Airmen, the
Civil Air Patrol and American citizenship. Boyd also
serves as CAP’s official liaison to Tuskegee Airmen Inc.
Keeping their stories alive
Gray, who celebrates his 83rd birthday on May 30,
Col. George Boyd, center, shows off his Congressional Gold Medal
as Col. Barney King, left, commander of CAP's Kansas Wing, and
Dennis Kuhlman, dean of Kansas State University at Salina, look on.
has been active in aerospace education while a member
of the Fort Lauderdale Composite Squadron. Since
joining the squadron in the mid-’90s, he has shared
his life experiences with many children and adults.
“You never know how people will react to you, but
I’ve had a pretty good reaction,” said Gray.
Lt. Col. William H. Ferguson, director of finance
for CAP’s Southeast Region, said Gray’s influence is
great among the wings’ cadets.
“We are very proud of Leo,” Ferguson said. “He has
been a teacher, adviser and motivator par excellence to
our cadets, and believe me, he loves our cadets.”
Both Boyd and Gray take their replica
Congressional Gold Medal with them when they make
presentations. Designed by the U.S. Mint, the actual
medal contains 15 ounces of gold and will be housed
at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
Upon request, the medal will be made available for
temporary display at museums around the nation.
The replica medal, made of bronze, is equally
impressive and heavy, Gray said.
“I thought it would be small enough that I could
wear it around my neck, but it is too big. It is 3 inches
in diameter and weighs 8 ounces. You probably would
have to have a pair of crutches to do that,” he said.
Instead, he carries it in a plastic bag, and he gladly
shows it off to anyone who is interested.
“If nobody sees it, what good is it,” he said. ▲
Photo courtesy of Kansas State University at Salina.
Civil Air Patrol Volunteer 31 May-June 2007