MAJOR GENERAL GERALD LUTHER PRATHER Born: April 7, 1935 General Prather graduated from La Grange High School, La Grange, Georgia in 1953. In 1949, he was awarded the coveted Eagle Scout, and was only one of 2.6 million people who have received the award over the past 100 years. After graduation, he went to Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama on a full academic scholarship. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1954, but later returned to Auburn University to earn a BS Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1966, once again, an education fully paid for by the Air Force. General Prather earned a MS Degree in Electrical Engineering from the United States Institute of Technology in 1971 and completed the Advanced Management Program at the University of Houston. In 1954 General Prather completed Basic Training in the United States Air Force and was promoted to Airman Third Class. He was assigned to Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas when he was accepted into the Aviation Cadet Program and sent to Hondo Air Base, Hondo, Texas. He then went on to Officers Training School at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas and then to Laughlin Air Force Base, Del Rio, Texas where he completed pilot training as a Distinguished Graduate and on August 24, 1956 he received his wings, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U. S. Air Force. During this training period General Prather flew the PA-18 Piper, T-6 Texan and T-33 aircrafts. Upon completion of his pilot training General Prather was sent to Luke Air Force Base, Arizona where he was trained to fly the F-84F and then to England Air Force Base, Louisiana to fly nuclear and tactical missions in the plane. While going through pilot training at Laughlin, he married Carolyn Pearson at a party shortly before his graduation. About two weeks after arriving at Luke, he called Pearson and asked her to join him. They were married Nov. 22, 1956 and it was a union that flourished for 55 years, before Carolyn's death in Dec. 23, 2015. The union produced four children, Dean, Bryan (deceased), Jeri-Lynn and Angela and the family made their way around the world in service to the Air Force before eventually settling in Del Rio. The growing family left Luke for Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada where he trained in and flew the F-100. General Prather transferred to bombers and completed training in the B-52 at Castle Air Force Base, California and flew more than 200 hours in the B-52F as a pilot, instructor pilot and command pilot. General Prather flew a nuclear armed B-52 during the Cuban Missile Crisis and was on standby in his aircraft to fly to targets in the Soviet Union. When the air war began in Vietnam, General Prather was transferred to the C-130 aircraft and completed training in the C-130E and combat training at Stewart Air Force Base, Tennessee and Advanced Combat Training at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. He flew the C-130 aircraft with the 72nd Troop Carrier Squadron from Mactan Island Airfield, Philippines staging out of Ton Son Nhut Air Base, Saigon, and Republic of South Vietnam during 1967-1968. From Ton Son Nhut General Prather flew more than 500 combat support missions as an aircraft commander. During the Tet Offensive in 1968 he was credited with saving several C-130 aircraft from destruction. General Prather was then deployed to Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam as Operations Officer, and later to Phan Rang to establish satellite operations for the C-130 aircraft from Ton Son Nhut Air Base during the Tet attacks. During his service in Vietnam, General Prather received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medals and Bronze Star with Valor. General Prather flew many missions to re-supply the Marine Base at Ka Son, South Vietnam when the base was under siege, and in fact, flew the first C-130 to make it into Ka Son at the end of the Monsoon season in South Vietnam. After delivering his load of ammunition to the Ka Son base, General Prather and his crew carried out fifty seven Marines who had been trapped at the base even after their tours of duty had expired. Following his Southeast Asia tour, General Prather received numerous key command positions at squadron, group and major command level. His staff and command positions included a tour at United States Readiness Command (now U. S. Central Command) where he earned his paratrooper wings. He did three tours with Strategic Air Command when he received his Missileman Badge. General Prather did a tour of duty in Europe at NATO and participated in highly sensitive missions concerning activities in Iran and Egypt (including part of the planning team to rescue the hostages in the United States Embassy in Tehran, Iran). He then went on to do two tours at the Pentagon, Washington, D. C. as Assistant Air Force Chief of Staff for Communications and Computer Systems (now Cyber Command) where he led 60,000 men and women in 747 different locations throughout the world. When he retired August 31, 1986, Major General Prather had more than 4500 flying hours and his military decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medals, Air Force Commendation Medal, and Air Force and Marine Presidential Unit Citations. After 32 years and a brilliant career in the United States Air Force, General Prather retired on August 31, 1986 and moved to Del Rio, Texas to become Citizen Gerry Prather. Prather was not content to relax or go fishing, Del Rio's General immediately became involved in civic and governmental affairs and served as Justice of the Peace for Val Verde County, Texas for 10 years. He also served as Port Director of the Del Rio International Airport, and Director of Plans for Val Verde County, Texas. God gave Gerry Prather the gift of boundless energy as he soon became involved in every aspect of civic life in Del Rio, Val Verde County, Laughlin Air Force Base and the Concho Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Gerry served as President of the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce and is a Life Member of the Chamber Board of Directors. He has been a member of the Del Rio Host Lions Club since 1986, and served as Vice President and Board of Directors. Gerald Prather also served as President of the United Way of Del Rio/Val Verde County and Federal Combined Campaign and served an additional three years on the United Way Board of Directors. Gerry was a key leader in the Military Affairs Committee. On August 24, 1999 Tropical Storm Charlie moved into Texas from the Gulf of Mexico and poured about 17 inches on Del Rio in a 5-hour period. The sudden and unexpected downpour flooded Del Rio, killing at least sixteen people, destroying hundreds of homes, and creating millions in property damage. Immediately, the General was appointed by the State of Texas to lead recovery efforts, a position he served in for four years until the community was back on its feet. December 11, 2008 The General was nominated and elected to the United States Air Force Communications and Information Hall of Fame. He received the Air Force Association Jimmy Doolittle Award, and the Ira Eaker Award, as well as the Thomas Buckley Award for Service. Although 'retired' from the Air Force, The General stayed incredibly active at Laughlin where base members refer to him as "Our General." For the first time in the base's history, and only the 77th time in the Air Force's history, a street was named after a living person September 7, 2012 when Freedom Way became Prather Street. A feat that is impossible to document is Prather's mentorship to so many at Laughlin. He is credited with speaking at more Laughlin graduations than any other person in the base's history. He helped sponsor nearly 50 classes, giving students mentorship a break from training at parties and events held at his home. He always invited students and leadership to his home, telling them "The door is always open and the beer is always cold", a phrase now part of MAA's lore and is their slogan. Through the years, he was known as the wing commanders' mentor, always providing many at Laughlin a listening ear and wise words. A devout Christian and churchman, Gerry Prather has served about twenty years on the Vestry of St. James Episcopal Church, Del Rio, Texas, served four times as the church Senior Warden, served as Trustee of the Trust Endowment of the church, and is a licensed Lay Reader, Lay Eucharistic Minister, Worship Leader, and a graduate of the Ecumenical Center for Religion and Health in San Antonio, and is a licensed Pastoral Care Specialist. Gerry Prather has served two times as Interim Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Del Rio, and is Chaplin at the Val Verde Regional Hospital, Juvenile Justice Detention Center, Chaplain for the Val Verde County Fire Department, and Chaplain for District 2A2 Lions District. An Eagle Scout and life long member and supporter of Boy Scouts of America, Gerald Prather is a thirty five year adult scout leader and served as Scoutmaster in Sacrament, California, Cub Master in Auburn, Alabama, served as Amistad District Chairman for three years, on the Board of Directors of the Concho Valley Council, Life Member of the National Eagle Scout Association, Eagle Scout Advancement Chairman for more than thirteen years, served on the Camp Fawcett Development Committee, and is a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award. 1n 1995, The Borderline Singers, a local Bluegrass band was formed and The General was known for playing an instrument unofficially known as The Stand-up Washtub Bass. Anyone who ever saw the band remembers The General for his crazy antics and wacky hats. During a fundraiser he hosted in 2015 for State Sen candidate Helen Madla. While Madla fought a gallant campaign for the office, The General battled for the Candidate's heart -- and won --. Marrying her in May of 2016. It was a love that was marked by world travel and the occasional hospital visit. However, regardless if it was the best of times, or a hospital visit, Helen was always by his side. The General earned another title, Chicken Nugget (what his granddaughters called him) and he also became an integral part of the Madla family. In 2018, General Prather continued his service to the community when he was elected to the Val Verde Regional Medical Center Hospital Board. He helped guide the hospital through devastating COVID times. He's fondly remembered by the team at VVRMC for his many for a listening ear and always ready to help staff and patients. The General leaves a wake of many family members and mentees. Visitation will be held Monday, June 13, 2022, 4:00pm-7:00pm at Sunset Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 2020 Bedell Ave.,Del Rio, Texas, 78840. Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, June 14, 2022, 12:00pm at SFDR-CISD Student Performance Center, 315 Griner St., Del Rio, Texas. Full Military Honors will be rendered by the United States Air Force. Interment to follow at Westlawn Cemetery, at the end of W. 2nd Street, Del Rio, Texas.