Remembering Them Forever (RTF)!

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Military Information:

• US Air Force
• Retired Military
• Rank E8
• Vietnam Veteran
• Meritorious Service Medal
• Cold War
• Air Force Commendation Medal
• TVHOF Class 2019
• 1-Alpha List
• Vietnam Service Medal
• Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Bio:

Gary E. Steele


Retired from the United States Air Force and from the State of Texas, retiring after 42 years of state and federal service. Gary’s assignments while in the military included a tour in Vietnam where he was a crew chief and worked on the EC-47 Gooney Bird. His other assignments included several tours and trips to all the bases in the Pacific Theater. He earned the second highest rank (E-8 SMSgt) possible under the enlisted structure. His job titles ranged from Crew Chief to Training Superintendent, Combat Comm Advisor and Detachment Commander. During Gary’s 21 years, he received over 40 decorations and awards for his service.


Major Military Honors (Over 40 Military Awards and Decoration):
3 Meritorious Service Medals
2 Air Force Commendation Medals
1 Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
4 USAF Outstanding Unit Award with one for Valor
7 USAF Good Conduct Medals
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Small Arms Expert
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Device Medal
Cold War Medal.

Education: Gary earned a BS Degree in Occupational Education and MS Degree in Human Relations and Business. He did complete some leveling work on a Doctorate in Applied Gerontology.

Civilian Work -Gary’s civilian work included teaching at the High School level and program management at the University of North Texas and the University of Texas at Dallas.

Past President of the Cooperative Education Association (CEI). CEI is a sixty year old organization that provides support on a national level for students receiving internships and cooperative education experience. His most noted accomplishment was putting on a world wide conference in Washington DC.

Past President of the Texas Cooperative Education and Internship Association. Highlights for his term include developing and implementing a website for practitioners that provided cooperative education and internships to Texas State schools and colleges.

Community Activities:

Past President and Board Member of the Denton Watch Group. Co-founders that had a mission to make neighborhoods of Denton safer and a nicer place to live.

Board of Directors Grand Chapter of Texas, Order of the Eastern Star for 5 Years. Provided guidance and leadership to an organization of over 40,000 members. One of his accomplishments was being able to travel to Germany and present a check for $30,000 to the MilitaryWounded Warriors Fund.

Board of Directors for the Denton Animals Shelter Foundation for 3 years. Instrumental in helping the Foundation raise over two million dollars to help jump start a new 15,000 square foot animal care center in Denton, TX. Developed the first website for the Foundation.

Past President of the Denton Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association for 3 years. Earned the Police Volunteer of the Year Award for two years in a row. He was also instrumental in building a new firing range for the Police Department and creating a Citizens on Patrol program that augmented the duties of active police officers.

Member of the City of Denton Animal Shelter Advisory Committee (2014-2016)

Served on the Patient’s Rights Committee for Physically Challenged Children, State of Hawaii.

Current President and board member of the Green Valley School Historical Society. Part of a group of Vietnam Veterans that restored a 96 year old historic school house. They spent over five years and 15,000 man hours to preserve the history of the school and have made it into a modern day community center.

Current President of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #920. A local Chapter that has almost 200 members.

Current Project: Co-founder of the Texas Veterans Hall of Fame Foundation. Currently under development to honor Texas Veterans for their service to the State of Texas and this great Country of ours.

Civilian Honors:
Kiwaiian of the Year, 1987
Denton, TX Police Department Volunteer of the Year ( 2012 and 2013).
Denton Citizen Police Academy Alumni Presidents Award 
City of Denton-Outstanding Neighborhood Leadership Award (2014)
32nd Degree Master Mason
Presidential Gold and Silver Service Awards

United States Congressional Award:
U.S Congressional Veterans Commendation (2015) for his work with Veterans and the community.

United States Presidential Award:
Life Time Achievement Award
Gold and Silver Service Awards


Family: Married 22 years to LeJean Henson of Waco, TX. They have a son that lives in Williamsburg, VA and a daughter that lives in Plano,TX. Two grand sons ages 18 and 15.