Posted by XXXXXX on May 20, 2008:

James G. Sandman ’48 No. 16523 11 Mar 1926 – 30 Jul 2006 Died in Santa Cruz, CA Cremated. Interred in Stockton, CA James Gage Sandman was born and grew up in Stockton, CA, one of four sons of Otto and Mildred Sandman. His father, an Army National Guard officer, served on active duty in both world wars and retired as a major general. Jim was a good student and a recognized leader in Stockton High School. He was on the swimming team, involved in many extracurricular activities, and elected president of his senior class. At the Academy, Jim did well in academics and was a winner on the swimming team. He was a four-year member of the Honor Committee, active in the Ski Club, and on the Pointer staff. Jim’s outstanding leadership capabilities earned him appointment as a cadet captain and commander of Company M-2 in his First Class year. He was well-liked by all who knew him. As noted in the Class of ’48 Howitzer, “he will long be remembered by a multitude of buddies for his personality and loyalty.” Jim chose to be commissioned in the newly-independent Air Force. While in basic flight training at Randolph Air Force Base, TX, he married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Sutton. Their wedding was the beginning of a wonderful life together in the Air Force and later in the civilian world. After flight training, Jim was assigned to the new Strategic Air Command, initially flying tankers and then for six years flying the B-47 jet bomber at March AFB, CA. He spent many days on alert and many months on assignments away from home. One day, Jim found himself by happenstance being asked to pose in front of a B-47 for a photograph for the base newspaper. It turned out to be a very good photograph. Boeing and other companies obtained permission to use it in advertising, and then the Air Force Recruiting Service began using it on a recruiting poster and in nation-wide recruiting ads. Of course, then Jim was dubbed by friends — somewhat to his chagrin—as the Air Force “Poster Boy.” In 1958, Jim received perhaps his most enjoyable assignment: he was placed in charge of a cadet squadron at the newly established Air Force Academy. Former cadets from his squadron still speak highly of his great leadership qualities and the example he set for them. After three years of Academy duty, Jim and the family — now with five kids — enjoyed three pleasant years in England. Jim attended the Royal Air Force Staff College and served on exchange duty as a staff officer in the RAF Bomber Command. After returning to the States and earning his master’s degree in mechanical engineering, Jim served at the Pentagon in the National Military Command Center, where he was responsible for the design and operation of a new, automated management system for providing critical information to senior defense officials. Next, he attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, served in Southeast Asia as an airborne mission control commander, and then served as chief of the Seventh Air Force Combat Operations Center. Returning home in 1971, Jim was assigned to Mather AFB, near Sacramento, as the commander of the Air Force recruiting group responsible for recruiting activities in 13 western states, an assignment he was not exactly pleased to receive. Recruiting was not one of his career goals; however, he applied himself with his typical vigor and enthusiasm and came to realize the importance of effective recruiting for an all-volunteer force. He instituted a pilot program using part-time civil service employees rather than military personnel to conduct mental testing, saving money and personnel. The program was approved by the Department of Defense for use throughout the Armed Forces. In 1976, as another assignment approached, Jim and Barbara decided for family reasons that it was time for Jim to end his rewarding Air Force career, in which Barbara had been a full and eager partner all the way. He retired as a colonel and became active in politics and business in Sacramento. In 1979, Jim was appointed executive director of the Sacramento Association of Realtors, a job made to order for his managerial and organizational skills. It was a satisfying second career. He served in the position for 18 years, greatly improving the association and receiving accolades for his leadership. On 27 February 1997, Congressman Robert Matsui entered a rare tribute in the U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Record, citing Jim’s distinguished career in the Air Force and his outstanding contributions to the Sacramento community. In 1999, Jim and Barbara moved into their new dream home in Santa Cruz, where Jim again became active in community volunteer work. He was in good health and physical condition, still maintaining his youthful appearance, and tall and trim. For this reason, his sudden death from a massive stroke was a great shock to his family and friends. In addition to Barbara and a brother, Jim is survived by three sons and two daughters, plus ten grandchildren. Barbara superbly expressed what the Academy meant to Jim and his family in her eloquent description of their life together. “Jim’s experience at West Point was the defining experience of his life. West Point’s motto of Duty, Honor, Country had become engraved on his brain, and those concepts guided his every action throughout his life. West Point polished for this lad the values, the discipline and the structure that proved to be the guideposts for his thought and behavior throughout his long life. Those are the values that he passed on to our children. The children are all highly successful in their personal and professional lives. All are happily married and have produced a total of ten children, each of whom shows every promise of equaling or excelling their parents’ achievements. What greater legacy could any man desire?” What, indeed? —A classmate, with input from Barbara Sandman

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