This past week, Team Moody lost an amazing Airman and local hero – retired Brig. Gen. William Troy Tolbert.

The former Moody AFB wing commander was born in 1934 in Hollandale, Mississippi, and graduated from Mississippi State University in 1955 before entering into the U.S. Air Force in July of that same year. He completed pilot training in August 1956 at Webb AFB, Texas, and stayed there until 1960 as an instructor pilot. From September of 1960 until June of 1967, Tolbert served with the Okinawan Air Defense System as a weapons controller; then as a flight examiner and wing standardization and evaluation officer and aide-de-camp at Tyndall AFB, Florida; and finally as an aide-de-camp to the commander of the Military Advisory Group in Pakistan. Tolbert then completed F-4 pilot training at MacDill AFB, Florida, and flew 255 combat missions in Southeast Asia, where he was awarded two Distinguished Flying Cross medals for his actions in aerial flight.

Tolbert left Southeast Asia in February of 1969 and served as the executive assistant to the 4th Air Force commander at Hamilton AFB, California. Little did he know, but the 41st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (now the 41st Rescue Squadron) and Tolbert were stationed at Hamilton AFB at the same time. In August of 1969, he left Hamilton AFB and went to Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, and became the 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) operations officer in October 1972. During his time as the operations officer, he deployed with his squadron to Southeast Asia. Tolbert took command of the 335 TFS on March 2, 1973, and relinquished command April 26, 1974.

From July of 1975 until October of 1978, Tolbert graduated from the Air War College, became the Fighter Programs Division Chief at Tactical Air Command (now Air Combat Command) at Langley AFB, Virginia, and then became the 9th Air Force (now Air Force Central Command) director of operations in December of 1977.

Tolbert took command of the 347th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) here at Moody AFB from Oct. 5, 1978, until Aug. 29, 1979. The 347 TFW was the parent command and flew F-4E Phantom aircraft during that time. During his 10 and a half months with the 347 TFW, Tolbert was very involved with the Airmen and family members of Moody AFB. He was right there to greet returning deployers and congratulate them on a job well done and pose with toddlers during the Child Care Center ground breaking ceremony in the first quarter of 1979.

Tolbert took command of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hill AFB, Utah, in August of 1979 and then took command of the 1st Fighter Tactical Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Virginia, in August of 1980.

Back in those days, it was not uncommon for colonels to continually take command of multiple wings throughout their career. Tolbert finished his career as the special assistant to the deputy commander of operations for Tactical Air Command. He retired on June 1, 1982.

Tolbert flew 5,500 hours throughout his career in numerous aircraft including the F-4E Phantom, F-15 Eagle and F-16 Falcon. He has been awarded the Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Cross medals, a Bronze Star medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, 18 Air Medals and an Air Force Commendation Medal. After his retirement, Tolbert made Valdosta his home and wrote a book titled, “From Dirt to Duty.”

Tolbert will truly be missed.