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| PAID FOR BY: MORRIS FOR ATHENS - Gary Van Meter, Treasurer - 39 Avon Place, Athens OH 45701 |
CURRENT AFFILIATIONS/MEMBERSHIPS:
• Chair, City of Athens Commission on Disabilities
• Represented the Near Eastside Neighborhood
Association (NENA) on the 2010 ad hoc committee on the
Athens Noise Ordinance
• Former President, Athens Civitan Club, current member
Athens Rotary
• Member, American Legion, Post 21
• Member, VFW, Post 3477
• At large member, AMVETS
• Central Committee member and Treasurer, Athens
County Republican Party
• Life member, Air Force Association
• Life member, Order of Daedalians
• Chair, City of Athens Commission on Disabilities
• Represented the Near Eastside Neighborhood
Association (NENA) on the 2010 ad hoc committee on the
Athens Noise Ordinance
• Former President, Athens Civitan Club, current member
Athens Rotary
• Member, American Legion, Post 21
• Member, VFW, Post 3477
• At large member, AMVETS
• Central Committee member and Treasurer, Athens
County Republican Party
• Life member, Air Force Association
• Life member, Order of Daedalians
MILITARY AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
• Legion of Merit
• Defense Meritorious Service Medal, one oak leaf cluster
• Meritorious Service Medal, four oak leaf clusters
• Air Force Commendation Medal
• Joint Service Commendation Medal
• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
• Southwest Asia Service Medal
• Kuwait Liberation Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF MILITARY PROMOTION:
• Second Lieutenant Jun 1, 1975
• First Lieutenant Dec 10, 1978
• Captain Dec 10, 1980
• Major May 1, 1987
• Lieutenant Colonel Mar 1, 1992
• Colonel Jun 1, 1998
• Legion of Merit
• Defense Meritorious Service Medal, one oak leaf cluster
• Meritorious Service Medal, four oak leaf clusters
• Air Force Commendation Medal
• Joint Service Commendation Medal
• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
• Southwest Asia Service Medal
• Kuwait Liberation Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF MILITARY PROMOTION:
• Second Lieutenant Jun 1, 1975
• First Lieutenant Dec 10, 1978
• Captain Dec 10, 1980
• Major May 1, 1987
• Lieutenant Colonel Mar 1, 1992
• Colonel Jun 1, 1998
EDUCATION:
1975 Bachelor of Arts degree in physics, Capital University, Bexley, Ohio
1977 Squadron Officer School by correspondence
1981 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
1984 Air Command and Staff College by correspondence
1985 Master of Arts degree, management and supervision, Central Michigan University, Point Pleasant, Michigan.
1988 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
1992 Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia
1993 Air War College by seminar
1975 Bachelor of Arts degree in physics, Capital University, Bexley, Ohio
1977 Squadron Officer School by correspondence
1981 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
1984 Air Command and Staff College by correspondence
1985 Master of Arts degree, management and supervision, Central Michigan University, Point Pleasant, Michigan.
1988 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
1992 Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia
1993 Air War College by seminar
A command Air Force pilot with over 4,100 flying hours,
including combat support hours in Operations Just Cause
in Panama and Desert Storm in the Middle East, Randy
served nearly 30 years on active duty, retiring in 2005 in
the rank of Colonel. His assignments included serving on
the US Joint Staff under JCS Chairman GEN Colin
Powell, command of a squadron in Alaska, director of a
key staff at the headquarters for Air Mobility Command
following the attacks of 9/11, and Professor of Aerospace
Studies and AFROTC detachment commander twice
(Ohio University and the University of California, Berkeley).
including combat support hours in Operations Just Cause
in Panama and Desert Storm in the Middle East, Randy
served nearly 30 years on active duty, retiring in 2005 in
the rank of Colonel. His assignments included serving on
the US Joint Staff under JCS Chairman GEN Colin
Powell, command of a squadron in Alaska, director of a
key staff at the headquarters for Air Mobility Command
following the attacks of 9/11, and Professor of Aerospace
Studies and AFROTC detachment commander twice
(Ohio University and the University of California, Berkeley).
Randy then cross-trained as a pilot in the C-5 Galaxy and
served the first of two tours of duty in Dover, Delaware. In
Dover, Shawn gave birth to their third daughter, Mary.
Their daughters all have strong ties to Athens as one
graduated from Athens HS, one attended East Elementary
and Athens Middle School, and one earned her bachelor’s
and master’s degrees from Ohio University. All three have
earned master’s degrees, two are married and one lives in
Athens with her husband and young son.
served the first of two tours of duty in Dover, Delaware. In
Dover, Shawn gave birth to their third daughter, Mary.
Their daughters all have strong ties to Athens as one
graduated from Athens HS, one attended East Elementary
and Athens Middle School, and one earned her bachelor’s
and master’s degrees from Ohio University. All three have
earned master’s degrees, two are married and one lives in
Athens with her husband and young son.
| Randy with his UC Berkeley Air Force ROTC Students - California 2004 |
Following his assignment at Ohio University the Morris’
rented out their Athens home for their final eight years of
active duty, then returned to their home in 2005. Since
that time Randy has worked as Director of Member
Services for the National Business Incubation Association,
an association representing the business incubation
industry whose members help entrepreneurs create jobs
and wealth in their communities.
He has also become involved in politics (something new,
since that was expressly prohibited while he was on active
duty), and is currently serving as treasurer for the Athens
County Republican Party. He also serves as the Chair of
the Athens City Commission on Disabilities. He is a
former two-year president of the Athens Civitan Club and
is currently a member of the Athens Rotary Club.
rented out their Athens home for their final eight years of
active duty, then returned to their home in 2005. Since
that time Randy has worked as Director of Member
Services for the National Business Incubation Association,
an association representing the business incubation
industry whose members help entrepreneurs create jobs
and wealth in their communities.
He has also become involved in politics (something new,
since that was expressly prohibited while he was on active
duty), and is currently serving as treasurer for the Athens
County Republican Party. He also serves as the Chair of
the Athens City Commission on Disabilities. He is a
former two-year president of the Athens Civitan Club and
is currently a member of the Athens Rotary Club.
| The Morris Family - Montauk, New York 2007 |
| 2011 © Morris for Athens - Site Design by: Emily S. Morris |
Randy grew up in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, the youngest son of
florists, Nelson and Mary Morris. Randy’s father was a B-
17 pilot in WWII, which contributed to Randy’s interest in
military aviation. Randy attended Capital University in
Bexley on a full, four-year scholarship from Air Force
ROTC. An Eagle Scout, Randy worked throughout college
to support himself. He was a cashier and bagger at a Big
Bear grocery store.
florists, Nelson and Mary Morris. Randy’s father was a B-
17 pilot in WWII, which contributed to Randy’s interest in
military aviation. Randy attended Capital University in
Bexley on a full, four-year scholarship from Air Force
ROTC. An Eagle Scout, Randy worked throughout college
to support himself. He was a cashier and bagger at a Big
Bear grocery store.
| Randy with his parents and his future wife, Shawn - 1972 |
Upon graduation, Randy earned a commission as an
officer in the Air Force. In the summer between his
sophomore and junior years he married his high school
sweetheart, Shawn Williams, who earned her RN from
Grant Hospital School of Nursing in Columbus.
In 1976 the Morris's left Ohio as Randy entered active duty
in the Air Force, attending pilot training in Enid, Oklahoma.
After earning his Air Force pilot wings, Randy stayed in
Enid for three more years as an instructor pilot in the T-38
Talon. Enid is also where Randy and Shawn's two eldest
daughters, Emily and Katie, were born.
officer in the Air Force. In the summer between his
sophomore and junior years he married his high school
sweetheart, Shawn Williams, who earned her RN from
Grant Hospital School of Nursing in Columbus.
In 1976 the Morris's left Ohio as Randy entered active duty
in the Air Force, attending pilot training in Enid, Oklahoma.
After earning his Air Force pilot wings, Randy stayed in
Enid for three more years as an instructor pilot in the T-38
Talon. Enid is also where Randy and Shawn's two eldest
daughters, Emily and Katie, were born.
| Randy, Shawn, and baby Emily - Vance AFB, OK 1977 |
| Randy Briefing Admiral Dennis Blair - Anchorage AK 2000 |
Click on the image for a larger view.
