Col. Thomas Scott Pugh (Ret)

USAF Retired, "Flew West" on May 13, 2014.This remarkable mans devotion to his family, his country, his friends, and aviation, is in a word exceptional, and merits special attention.Tom was born September 30, 1935 at Fort Lewis, Washington. He spent the next 13 years in Anchorage, then relocated with his family to Seattle in 1947 where he attended Highline High School graduating in 1953. Tom then spent a year in Germany with his family on assignment with his Father a US Army Lt. Col. Tom then returned to Central Washington University, graduating in 1958 with a BA in Economics, and a Commission a 2nd Lt. in the USAF through (AFROTC).While at Central Tom Married his sweetheart, Deanna Winner on February 14, 1957Tom spent 1958 and 1959 in ASAF flight training Graduating with the coveted Wings in November 1959. He immediately proceeded to training and checked out as combat pilot on the B-47. After 3 years of flying the B-47 Tom was selected for the B-52 program, completed training, and was assigned Glasgow AFB Montana as a B-52D pilot. When Tom told Deanna they were going to Glasgow, she happily replied "wonderful, I have always wanted to see Scotland" Deanna's response is still a family secret when she learned it was really a windswept prairie.While at Glasgow "Mt" Tom excelled as he was wont to do. Tom was "Officer in Charge" of the base instrument school, the Instrument Ground School, Flight instructor and flight examiner as well as Chief of Standardization/Evaluation. Now a "Below the Zone Major"During this time, Tom also completed two "Arc Light" combat tours in VietNam from bases in Guam, Okinawa and Thailand.After transferring to Beale AFB as a B-52G instructor, in 1970 Tom went through an extensive interview process and was selected as a pilot in the Lockheed SR-71 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing.For the next two years Tom flew combat reconnaissance Missions in Vietnam (and other intelligence gathering missions) out of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. Tom was now a Lt. Col.In 1972 Tom as a full Colonel was selected as Chief of flight test for the SR-71 program at Palmdale working closely with the "Skunk Works"During these years Tom attended The Air Force Command and Staff College graduating 1973, The National Defense University's Industrial College then Graduate studies at George Washington University.Tom went on to become "Deputy Commander, then Vice Commander, then Commander of the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB California.Col Tom Pugh was Responsible for the worldwide operation of all the SR-71, U-2, KC135Q and T38 aircraft and aircrews in that wing.Tom retired in 1984 with 26 years of active service. Following Air Force retirement, Tom immediately joined the Lockheed "Skunk Works" as a Staff engineer on the SR-71 program and then progressed to "Flight Test Manager" for the SR-71 and U-2 programsTom worked closely with his mentor and friend, the famous Kelly Johnson.Tom retired from the Skunk Works in January 1997 and relocated to Bainbridge Island Tom And Deanna have been a huge part of the Bainbridge and Rotary community ever since.He is survived by his wife of 57 years Deanna, daughters, Cathy, Sherrie (Pete), Lauri (Scott) and Diane., siblings Carol, Mike, Frank and Pat, 4 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild, and sister-in-law Karen McMillan.Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend a military service at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA June 4, 2014 at 2:30 PM followed by a celebration of life at 4:30 PM at the Museum of flight in Seattle Washington. Please sign the online Guest Book for the family.