“Following his USAF career, he served in logistics management roles for Lockheed Aircraft Service Company and Lockheed Space Operations Company where he was the Director of Logistics and lead the team that won a six billion dollar NASA contract supporting the Space Shuttle. NASA awarded him their prestigious Public Service Medal for…”exceptional leadership contributions in the management of the logistics functions supporting Space Shuttle processing.” (1)
Source: (1) Dallas Morning News on Aug. 11, 2013.
George R. Savage, Col USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on August 6, 2013.
Colonel George R. Savage, USAF Retired, 83, slipped the surly bonds of earth for his final flight on August 6, 2013 at his home in Plano, Texas.
Colonel Savage was born Sept 14, 1929 to Howard Savage and Eva Georgina (Vermilyea) Savage in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Saint George High School in 1947, and enlisted in the US Air Force in 1949. He completed Aviation Cadet Training was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and received his pilot wings. He flew B-29s on combat missions over North Korea and was credited with dropping the 100,000th ton of bombs in that war. On his return from Korea he began a long career in Strategic Air Command flying the B-47 and B-52.
Colonel Savage was a Command Pilot and Instructor Pilot with several thousand flying hours in both aircraft. In 1953 during a deployment to England, he met the Love of His Life, Monica Elizabeth Jones. They married in 1954 and subsequently lived in Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, Germany, Belgium, Louisiana, Guam, California, Florida and Texas. Colonel Savage served a year in Vietnam flying F-100s. Later, he commented that “they wasted the talents of the World’s Best Bomber Pilot by putting him in a fighter.”
After Vietnam he earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska and a Master’s degree from Central Michigan University. He also graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He then served in several logistics Director and Command positions, most notably as the founding commander of the 4008th CAM Wing. Colonel Savage retired in 1980. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit (3 awards), the Bronze Star, the Air Medal (2 awards), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal (3 awards) and numerous service and campaign medals.
Following his USAF career, he served in logistics management roles for Lockheed Aircraft Service Company and Lockheed Space Operations Company where he was the Director of Logistics and lead the team that won a six billion dollar NASA contract supporting the Space Shuttle. NASA awarded him their prestigious Public Service Medal for…”exceptional leadership contributions in the management of the logistics functions supporting Space Shuttle processing.”
Colonel Savage was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Monica. He is survived by two sisters, Eva G. McCory of Illinois, Mary Ellen Poptic of Ohio and his brother Michael Savage of Ohio. He is survived by three daughters, Frances Ann Savage of New Mexico, Eva Georgina Clark of Texas and Patricia Lynn Maynard of Utah. His sons-in-law are Robert Clark of Texas and Justin Maynard of Utah. His four grand-children are Laura Horton of Maryland, Amanda Swart of Mississippi, Brandon West of Utah and Jonathan West of Utah. His one great-grand-daughter is Mia West of Utah. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
He is interred in the columbarium at Dallas Veteran Cemetery.
