Samuel, David B.

Dave Samuel by Doug Jenkins:

Colonel David B. Samuel, United States Air Force Academy Class of 1964, was a member of the 16th Cadet Squadron. By acclamation, Sam was also an honorary member of the CS20 Trolls, of which I was a member. I think his quirky sense of humor and unmatched hunger for adventure in any form made him a shoo-in. While at the Academy, he was the Editor-in-Chief of the DODO Magazine. The photo to the right is of Bob Skinner and Crazy Sam, taken in early 1964.

What is the DODO, you ask? You see, there was this bird, the DODO, and it was radically different from all the other birds, and it soon died out. Then another little different bird came along and brought the DODO back to life. He almost died out himself for his efforts. Fortunately for us, Sam remained among the living. In so doing, Sam became the narcotic of the Cadet Wing through the DODO…

Following a great career in fighters, Sam turned his attention to teaching and mentoring members of Tomorrow’s Air Force within the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps. From 1981 through 1984, he served as Professor, Commander & Professor of Aerospace Studies at Cal State University in Sacramento, CA. From 1984 to 1985, he was Chief of the Selections Division, HQ AFROTC, Maxwell AFB, AL. From 1985 to 1988, Sam served as Commander & PAS at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ. In the 1988 to 1990 timeframe, he was the Area Commandant for the Ohio Valley AFROTC at WPAFB, OH. In 1990 and 1991, he was Commander & PAS of AFROTC Detachment 105 at the University of Colorado in Boulder. There he mentored and influenced many lives, including that of my son Dan, who was attending CU at the time.

Sam, our class “criminal” (361 punishments assessed), is the only officer to have ever commanded more than one senior AFROTC unit. That AFROTC decade saw him personally commission more new lieutenants than anyone in documented history.

Sam and I have worked through many good times and tough times together. Sam sat with me in March 1997, when our son Dan passed away. Ironically, I had the privilege of sitting with Sam when his son, Mark passed away in September of that same year.

In 1998, following a brilliant career of service to his nation, Sam became a Realtor for the Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate Company, in Boulder, where he helped numerous of clients with compassion, dedication and integrity.

His main commitment as a Realtor, however, was to try to assure new agents would be able to lend the same degree of knowledge and effort to their duties as he did. To achieve this, he established heightened practical educational goals and programs, complemented strongly by an active Mentor program. David holds a Master of Arts degree from Denver University, as well as diplomas from the Air War College and Air Command and Staff College. He is also the recipient of the Legion of Merit, 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Airman’s Medal, 2 Meritorious Service Medals and 10 Air Medals.

David and his wife Karen, have a son, Jeff, who excelled in his own Air Force career, thanks in large part to his dad’s encouragement and his mother’s steady love. Jeff recently retired – the poor kid had logged barely over 3000 hours in the F-15, and more than 100 combat missions.