Class of: 1957
Brick: yes
Email: [email protected]

Born 9 June, 1935 I am now retired, enjoying children, grandchildren, my Mate, Sue Reynolds of 57 years and a variety of interests from art to writing to sports.

THE BEGINNING
Dad was selling natural gas throughout the South, requiring frequent moves. World War II dramatically changed the priority of national infrastructure to a war footing with almost everyone involved in the war effort of fighting, building tanks, airplanes and ships. My dad was a reserve captain in the Coastal Artillery and although 38, was drafted and was to enter service December 1943 (He nicked named me “Buz” because I was always busy as a baby boy). Unfortunately, a blood clot passed from his leg to his heart and he died instantly two weeks before he was to enter service. My mother and I had moved to her aunt’s farm in Arkansas in preparation of dad being deployed. Soon after, the three of us moved to Miami, Florida, and I entered the third grade and graduated from Edison High in 1953 I was fortunate to receive a scholarship to Stetson University and graduated in 1957 with a Business degree and commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. 1957 was also the year Stetson earned the right to represent our NAIA District at the NAIA Nationals in Kansas City, Missouri. Prior to entering service in late November, I was ever so fortunate to marry Sue Davis, also a Stetson graduate. We are still enjoying a wonderful relationship and hope we have a great many years to carry on. At least to see our grandchildren graduate from college (hmmm, we will be 90!)

MY MILITARY CAREER
Entering service as an Infantry Officer provided a wonderful experience for us both. We had tours in Europe, many posts across the United States and of course a couple of years separated while serving in Southeast Asia. Was fortunate to learn from so many good and great people and enjoying the challenges of leading men and women. I served in other branches of the army, Military Police, Signal Corps and General Staff positions in the Pentagon and CENTCOM joint command headquarters. Attended Infantry Officers Course, Military Police School, Signal Corps School, Army Command and Staff College and the Air War College and earned a masters degree from Troy University along the way. In 1979, I received an early promotion to Colonel. My two sons were in third year of college and last year of high school. I declined a command position in Germany in order to be close by them. From a career standpoint this was a difficult decision. However the rewards of fatherhood made this decision the right one.

AFTER THAT
I joined Computer Sciences Corporation, a major contractor on the NASA Shuttle Program and worked in the environmental measurements department as a manager. We placed instruments everywhere to determine the blast, vibration and noise impact of Shuttle launches. After several years working with corporations, I formed my own company specializing in development of business plans and proposals. All the major aerospace companies and several of the small supporting companies were my customers. I had the privilege of working often with Freddie Haise, the Apollo 13 astronaut, who had joined Grumman Aerospace after his retirement from NASA. Eventually retirement called and Sue and I settled in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. My youngest son continued the company, Leading Edge Associates, evolving it into a software development company for customers in the Vector Control and agricultural business. Additionally, he is employing drones for data acquisition and chemical application in both fields. The Reynolds’ boys are older than this photo. Eighteen year old William K. Reynolds is a student at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Seventeen year old Michael D. Reynolds, Jr. is a honor student athlete at Christ School, Asheville, N.C. 16 year old Davis Allen Reynolds is a honor student athlete at Tuscola High School, Waynesville, N.C.

Life has been good to my family and me. I credit Stetson as being the bedrock of my adult foundation for life. Special thanks go out to Stetson’s Dean Hood, then the Dean of Boys, Coach Morland and Coach “Doc” Johnson. All of these good men did their best to keep me on the “straight and narrow”.