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Region Profile: South Central Region
Welcome to the South Central Region made up of the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. There are fifteen chapters in the
central region with a total of 6311 members.
Most states and chapters support and nominate a teacher of the year and support and work with the Civil Air Patrol.
Most chapters support and work with AFROTC and AFJROTC units in their areas of responsibility.
Most chapters participate and provide financial support to quarterly and annual award winners if military bases are in their areas.
ALABAMA
Montgomery, AL:
Montgomery Chapter 102 is one of the strongest chapters in the country and has won Best Chapter in AFA as well as Best Chapter in its size category.
The chapter has an exceptional Aerospace Education program that has set the benchmark for other chapters throughout the nation. Local teachers are honored
by the chapter and given recognition at chapter luncheons. The 2009 Teacher of the Year was Ms. Rebecca Hill.
Quarterly luncheons are well attended and feature prominent military and civilian speakers. Recent speakers included AFA Chairman of the Board, Joe
Sutter, Commandant of the Air Command and Staff College, B/Gen Anthony Rock, and the Director of the CIA’s Center for the Study of Intelligence, Dr.
Timothy Castle, author of One Day Too Long: Top Secret Site 85 and the Bombing of North Vietnam which was on the 2009 Air Force Chief of Staff’s
reading list.
The capstone event of the chapter’s luncheon program is an annual brunch honoring aviation legends participating in the Air Command and Staff Gathering
of Eagles program. Each “Eagle” is presented a medallion and recognized in an audio-visual presentation. Among the 2009 “Eagles” were Medal of Honor
recipient, Joe Jackson, WASP, Betty Strofuss and Mission Control Director on the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, Mr. Gene Kranz. The luncheon is held at
Montgomery’s Wynlakes Golf and Country club and is attended by over 200 military leaders, AFA members, and Community Partners.
The chapter provides a great deal of support to the Enlisted Heritage Research Institute. The Enlisted Heritage Hall within the EHRI is a world-class
facility housing museum quality displays and exhibits that chronicle the contributions of enlisted men and women throughout aviation history. In 2009,
the EHH was awarded four AETC and Air Force level awards for superior exhibits.
Over 300 area students and teachers participated in the annual AFA and Civil Air Patrol sponsored Aerospace Adventures Day for fourth grade students
held at Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
The chapter’s annual golf tournament provides the major source of revenue to support many programs that benefit the airman of Maxwell-Gunter. The 2009
tournament was attended by over 160 golfers.
Montgomery chapter representatives annually attend the AFA Symposium in Washington DC. Chapter delegates host a dinner for Alabama Senators and
Congressmen and many of their staffers. The delegates also visit each representative in their office to discuss many issues of concern to AFA.
The chapter’s quarterly newsletter keeps members informed and is used as a vehicle to recognize superior performers, distinguished guests and community
partners.
The chapter provided financial support for a number of other programs in 2009 including packaging and mailing of 1,817 school kits for Operation Back
to School at Taji, Baghdad, Iraq and Awards for local and state AFROTC and AFJROTC units and all quarterly and annual award programs at Maxwell-Gunter
for active duty, ANG and Reserve members.
Huntsville, Alabama:
Chapter 335, Tennessee Valley is also a strong Alabama chapter. It has an active Community Partner program and is involved in many programs in the
Huntsville area. In November, chapter delegates met with Congressional staff members to discuss health care and its effect on Air Force veterans. In
December, the chapter participated in a canned food drive to benefit the local community and an outing in support of Huntsville Havoc. In December,
chapter members participated in a presentation on the future of nuclear arms control in concert with the local American Legion Post. The presentation
was by Wilt Burwell, a former nuclear weapons inspector.
Birmingham, Alabama
The Birmingham Chapter is in the final stages of reactivation and now has active duty and Air National Guard personnel.
ARKANSAS
Little Rock, Arkansas:
The David Terry chapter 253 like the other South Central Region chapters has an active awards and recognition program and annually sponsors a Teacher of
the Year Award and an award for the Arkansas Air Guardsman of the Year. The chapter presented an AFROTC Cadet of the Year award at the University of
Arkansas and medals to all AFJROTC units in the state. Members participated in the Veterans Day activities “Remember Pearl Harbor Day” at the state c
apital and supported the move of a Vietnam Veteran monument from Camp Robinson to the Jacksonville Museum of Military History. A Republic F-105F
SN 63-8261 was also moved to the museum for permanent display. The Chapter supports a quarterly Family dinner and sponsors AFA educational programs for
dependents. The chapter also presents Pitsenbarger Grants to worthy students.
Hot Springs, Arkansas:
The Lewis F. Lyle Chapter 270 is not close to an active Air Force base but is active in community relations and joins other military based organizations
to celebrate Veterans Day, the USO dinner & dance, and USO talent show. The chapter publishes a quarterly newsletter and is involved in the Arkansas
School for Mathematics, Science, and Arts.
LOUISIANA
Shreveport, Louisiana:
The ARK-LA-TX Chapter 159 assists with the base retiree office to honor Louisiana Purple Heart recipients and war veterans. The chapter also supports
the Ace of Aces Awards to eighth grade students. The chapter awarded four Pitsenbarger Grants of $400 each to four aspiring airmen and sponsored the
50th anniversary of the establishment of the rank of Chief Master Sergeant in the Air Force. The State President Co-chaired the event; the Chief of
Staff was guest speaker.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana:
The Oris B. Johnson Chapter 156 works with and sponsors the ROTC unit at Louisiana State University and works closely with the MOAA Chapter in
Baton Rouge. It also supports aerospace and STEM programs each year.
MISSISSIPPI
Columbus, Mississippi:
The Golden Triangle Chapter 163 hosts an annual POW/MIA golf tournament and supports a “Stem” program with five vision classes. The members provide
support to Columbus AFB and Mississippi State University and sponsors Civil Air Patrol cadets to summer camp in Meridian, Mississippi.
Biloxi, Mississippi:
Stennis Chapter 332 supports the STEM program with five vision classes. After facing a number of severe challenges, the chapter has recovered from
a devastating hurricane several years ago.
Meridian, Mississippi:
The Meridian Chapter provided outstanding leadership during BRAC and continues to support the units in the area with a strong awards program.
TENNESSEE
Knoxville, Tennessee:
Holloway Chapter 367 is a very active and effective chapter. As sponsor of the Bud Bacon Memorial Annual Golf Tournament, they raised funds to support
the “STEM” program. On June 17, 2009, the chapter gave the AFA presentation at Holston, Tennessee, to the Space Technology Applications Reaching Students
Conference (STARS). Chapter 367 hosted the state AFA convention in 2009. An active awards program supported the Civil Air Patrol, AFJROTC, Teacher of the
Year, Outstanding Air National Guard unit, and the Outstanding Guardsman of the Year. Guest speaker for the awards banquet was Major General Irving Halter,
Joint Staff, Vice Director of Operations. The chapter also supported the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial supporting the B/Gen Bud Bacon Memorial Walkway.
Support was also provided for the Knoxville Veterans Day luncheon and the Honor Flight taking WWII Veterans to Washington DC.
Nashville, Tennessee:
The Callahan Chapter 230 initiated a grant program for deserving educators in the middle Tennessee area.
Chattanooga, Tennessee:
Chattanooga Chapter 248 works with and supports local Boy Scout events and presents a number of awards to
Scouts who use aviation merit for the Eagle Scout Award. The chapter also participated in the planning and execution of the Chattanooga air show.
Arnold Air Force Station Chapter 301 is working toward activation.
Memphis, Tennessee:
The Cook Chapter 336, and AFA Tennessee past President, Jim Kasperbauer, and family, continued their tradition of visiting the Veteran’s Medical Center
in Memphis on Veterans Day to distribute greeting cards and to express gratitude for the service and sacrifice of the patients, volunteers and staff.
This was the fourteenth consecutive year that Jim’s family has conducted this event. The greeting cards were made by the local school children. This year
marked the 26th annual ceremony of the massing of the colors held in Memphis. This event is sponsored each year by the Military Order of the World Wars
which features over 20 military color guards from local units including Air National guard, AFROTC and AFJROTC. This year’s guest speaker was M/Gen
Dexter Tutor, USAF, Retired.
Submitted by: Mark Dierlam, South Central Region President
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