Group civilian to retire after 28 years

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jason Schaap
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Come 2010, the 931st Air Refueling Group will be minus a Team McConnell fixture.

Judy Wilkinson, an administrative assistant for the Group, is retiring after 28 years of civil service here. Her McConnell adventure started in 1981, the same year Ronald Reagan was inaugurated, a postage stamp cost 15 cents, and Britney Spears was born.

"Civil service is much better now," she remembered. "Back then, we didn't have computers, just typewriters."

Wilkinson's first McConnell assignment was to the base clinic's administrative services. One of her most vivid memories of her time here is from 1991, when a F5 tornado hit the base and leveled the clinic. Police secured it and other destroyed buildings, but Wilkinson, a long-time photography enthusiast, wanted some pictures.

She convinced a guard to let her close enough to snap some quick shots from her car.

"Senator Bob Dole (later) came," she said, "and our commander presented him with a framed photo of the hospital after the tornado that I had taken."

The photo was also blown up for display inside a conference room of the rebuilt clinic. It still hangs there today.

Her cameras, Wilkinson said, are like her grandchildren and "Uno," her beloved golden retriever--retirement means more time with all of them. Waiting for her attention are "stacks and stacks" of photo albums that, she readily admits, make finding the particulars of her hobby a challenge.

Somewhere in the mix, for example, are pictures of former Russian president Boris Yeltsin when he visited McConnell in 1992. Wilkinson was sent to take pictures of him, she said, and ended up receiving a very warm and memorable handshake from the Russian leader. It was also an exciting and emotional day at the base.

"He had everybody in tears," she said. "That's when we had the B-1 Bombers here. He pointed at them and said, 'As long as I'm president, you won't need those.'"

A lot has changed during Wilkinson's 28 years here. And she has plenty of pictures to prove it. But it's the pictures of people, carried in her heart, that she cherishes the most.

"The fondest memories I have are of the people I have worked with here," she said. "I feel so good about the wonderful friendships I've made, especially when everyone stood by me when my son was so sick. I will always be grateful for the loving care they showed me during that time in my life."

Lt. Col. Clint Burpo joined the 931st ARG Plans and Programs office in early 2000, about six months after Wilkinson started her 931st tenure in the same office. They worked together until she transferred to the 18th ARS in 2006.

"(Judy) was always very caring and kind hearted," Colonel Burpo said, "and showed amazing strength during some very difficult times. We will miss her."