Robert "Skip" Rutherford

Robert "Skip" Rutherford, a native of Luling, entered the Air Force in 1961 after graduating from Southwest Texas State University, driven by a fascination with airplanes. Pilot training came easily to him, and he soon became a flight instructor at Reese AFB in Lubbock, Texas. He rose through the ranks as a fighter pilot who flew 161 combat missions, many over North Vietnam, and later commanded squadrons and Air Force bases around the world. Known for strong integrity, influential leadership, and decisiveness, he was widely respected. His influence helped persuade top government decision makers in the 1990s to purchase more C-17 transport planes, a decision that proved valuable after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks because the aircraft could operate in undeveloped areas and supply war zones during the "War on Terror." A devout family man, he retired in 1996 and died of natural causes in July 2013.

Luling, Texas · United States