Posted by Don Sheehan on September 22, 2011:

It is an open question as to whether leaders are born or made. It would appear that Joe was a born leader. He had enlisted in the Air Force after his high school graduation, and quickly earned a competitive appointment to West Point. Joe's leadership potential was further recognized early during our cadet days by his having been appointed Provisional Cadet Regimental Commander during our Yearling summer at Camp Buckner. He must have had a most impressive Plebe year in order to have earned that distinction. Academics were no challenge for him. His character was recognized by his representing his I-2 classmates on the Honor Committee, and in his being named Chairman of the committee as a First Classman. A "man for all seasons," Joe sang in the Cadet Chapel choir, played lacrosse, and was recognized by all his classmates as someone special. During First Class year he served as the Brigade Training Officer. With gold bars on his shoulders, and his Lovely Shirley at his side, Joe began Air Force Pilot training. He then flew in a troop carrier squadron before earning a master's degree in English from Vanderbilt. Next, Joe joined twenty-five classmates on the faculty at the Air Force Academy. Joe and I taught compostion and speech, technical writing, literature from the Bible, and worked together on a project to bring television learning into the classroom. No matter the challenge or difficulties encountered, I never heard Joe raise his voice. Joe and Shirley committed themselves to the Air Force mission, while raising a devoted Christian family. Joe volunteered for duty in Vietnam, flying the Ranch Hand missions that defoliated the jungles where the VC and North Vietnamese Army hid. During one of those missions his aircraft was hit by enemy fire, and Joe made a safe crash landing, saving the lives of his crew mates. All were rescued, and Joe completed his tour without further incident. He returned to the Air Force Academy for a year (with DFCs, Air Medals, and a Purple Heart ribbon below his Senior Pilot wings). After the academy he served in HqUSAFE, completed the Air War College, and served at HqUSAF and OASD before his final assignment as PAS at the University of Kentucky. In civilian life Joe earned membership in the Society of Professional Engineers, and became President of the Dupree Company. Joe's life priorities were serving his God and country, raising his children to love and serve God, loving his one and only Shirley, and being a friend to all in need. When God called him home to glory after a long fight with a brain tumor the angels cheered. "When he shall die, take him and cast him to the stars, and he shall make the face of Heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night."

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