The Abilene Southwest Rotary Club has honored the Dyess AFB outstanding performers since 1974. Richard Buzard, the incoming club president, attended a District Conference held in Wichita Falls, TX.   At a regular Rotary Club meeting, during that conference, was a lone Airman of the Month, from Sheppard Air Force Base. Richard felt that this type of recognition for our Dyess AFB military personnel would be appropriate for our club too. Since that time, we have honored the Airmen of the Month, Airman of the Quarter, NCO of the Quarter and other Outstanding Performers from Dyess AFB every three months.

 This has offered the airmen at Dyess an incentive to be the best.  The honorees receive public recognition for their efforts and are introduced individually by the base commander who tells something of their backgrounds, their hobbies, their duties and their aspirations for the future. This also gives the commander an opportunity to present our membership an update on the activities and latest news at Dyess AFB.

This quarterly occasion offers Dyess AFB the opportunity of showing off publicly their best and is looked forward to by the Dyess Personnel. This event is just one of the many ways that helps to improve the good relations between Dyess AFB and the City of Abilene.  We have heard many times that all Air Force personnel look forward to being stationed at Dyess AFB.

 The good relations between the base and our city helps our city very much. The base means a great deal to the economy of Abilene. We must all remember, however, that the base is not here for the economic well being of Abilene – that’s just a side benefit. The Base is here for the safety and protection of the United States of America. We are proud that Abilene is the home of a military installation that is so vitally important to our country.