John Rhodes:

I joined the United State Air Force in September 1961 and went on to serve my country a total of 38 years on active duty and as a civil servant. I served in Okinawa; Shaw AFB, South Carolina; Keesler AFB, Mississippi; Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal; Diyabikar, Turkey; Patrick AFB, Florida; and Hickam AFB, Hawaii. I retired in May, 2002.

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Technical Education in 1974, a Master of Science in Teleprocessing Science in 1987, and a Master of Education in Adult Education in 1997. I taught as an adjunct faculty instructor in engineering technology for the University of Southern Mississippi, and photography in the fine art department at William Carey University for the past three years.

I was married to my bride Barbara for nearly 35 years before her untimely death in June 2009. Barbara and I have four children and 8 grandchildren all living on the Mississippi gulf coast.