BERT FLEITZ
1939 Graduate
Nominated by: Paul Fleitz, ‘73

Bert Fleitz has lived in Oregon his whole life, graduating from Clay High School in 1939. He attended Bowling Green State University where he earned both his Bachelor’s and his Master’s degrees in education. During this time his education was interrupted by WWII, when he served in the Air Corps for three years.

Bert began his teaching career in Luckey, Ohio, in 1947, teaching Industrial Arts. In 1949 he taught math and IA at Olney High School in Northwood. Then, in 1950, he was offered a job by Josephine Fassett, Superintendent of the Oregon City Schools, to teach woodworking and mechanical drawing to seventh and eighth grade boys from Coy, Wynn and Clay Elementary in a classroom under the stadium at Clay High. At this same time he had a brief, although quite successful, two year career as a Clay Elementary basketball and softball coach for grade 8. From 1952-1984, Bert filmed all high school football games, both home and away; he filmed basketball for 30 years. In 1953, he moved into Clay High School to teach math. In 1954, Bert became the Clay High Assistant Principal and remained in that position until he retired in 1985.

He was instrumental in starting the Oregon Adult Education Program which remains in place today. He was president of the Oregon Federal Credit Union for 30 years and commissioner of the Clay High teacher’s golf league. Bert was active in his church, a volunteer at St. Charles Hospital for 20 years and with Meals on Wheels for 19. He is also a dedicated runner/walker and gardener. Bert and his wife Marie have been married for 60 years and have four children, 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

COL. WILLIAM DUKE
1956 Graduate
Nominated by: Mary Lou Christiansen Marble ‘56

Colonel William G. Duke was born May 9, 1938, in Ottumwa, Iowa. He attended Clay High School in Oregon, OH, after which he attended Case Western Institute of Technology in Cleveland, Ohio for two years.

On August 18, 1958, he enlisted in Aviation Cadet program of the USAF and graduated with distinction, having earned a pilot rating, and a commission in the USAF on November 25, 1959. He was assigned to Craig AFB, Alabama, where he spent five years as a flight and academic instructor in Air Training Command. Following Craig AFB, he attended Stanford University under the AFIT program where he graduated with distinction in June of 1966 with a BS degree in Electrical Engineering.

His next assignment took him to Vietnam as a Forward Air Controller where he received the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star, Air Medal (16 Oak Leaf Clusters) and the Vietnamese Air Medal. After Vietnam, he was a project officer for the Space and Missile Systems Organization (SAMSO) on Air Force satellite systems in Los Angeles, California.

He then attended the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson AFB where he graduated with distinction in March 1972 earning a Masters of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He was also awarded the Marvin E. Gross award for outstanding scholarship and leadership.

Following his AFIT assignment, he was assigned Director of Engineering at the Aerospace Data Facility at Buckley ANGB, Colorado, where he was promoted to his current rank of Colonel with a date rank of 1 June, 1974, before coming to the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. After graduating from the ICAF with distinction, he was assigned to Headquarters USAF, Washington, D.C. in the office of Assistant Chief of Staff for studies and analysis where he performed as Chief Force Analysis Division. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptional meritorious service in support of National Defense Programs while assigned to the Pentagon.

William is currently retired and is the husband to Patty who he cares for after her diagnosis of Alzheimer’s in 1998. He also has three daughters, two of which are married and five grandchildren. He currently lives in Las Cruses, New Mexico.