Col. Hoyt L. Prindle, Jr., USAFA Class of 1960, died peacefully at his Tallahassee, Florida home July 28, 2007, after a long battle with cancer. Hoyt was the first 1960 graduate from the Ninth Cadet Squadron to leave this world. He was a combat veteran with 138 combat missions flown during the Vietnam War. His military decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, and Air Force Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster.

Hoyt was known as "Oogie" by his friends, a name given to him by his parents while he was still an infant. He was born into an Air Force family and lived most of his entire life on Air Force bases around the world. At the Academy he was remembered as a fun person to be near, always joking around. Steve Bishop knew Hoyt before they were cadets, as their fathers were stationed at the same base at the same time. Steve says that during his cadet days, Oogie turned into a "real guy."

Hoyt was born Sept. 24, 1937, in Montgomery, Ala., and graduated from Columbia Military Academy in Columbia, Tenn., in 1955. After obtaining his master's degree in business administration from Harvard University in1969, he was assigned to Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, where he flew 119 combat missions as forward air controller navigator in the C-123 aircraft. From 1971 to 1973 he served as the executive officer to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans at MAC Headquarters.  In 1973 he became chief of Officer Career Development for the Military Airlift Command (MAC). He returned to rated duties in 1975, flying the C-5A aircraft at Travis AFB, Calif., where he was chief of the squadron operations center and squadron executive officer. In April 1977, he was assigned to Headquarters 22nd Air Force to manage the 22nd's War Readiness Program. In 1978, Hoyt was assigned to NATO as special assistant to the Chief of Staff at Headquarters Allied Forces Southern Europe in Naples, Italy. From 1981 to 1983, he served as chief of the Personnel Division of the 438th ABG at McGuire AFB, N.J. In 1983, he became the Professor of Aerospace Studies at FSU. In 1986, he transferred to Eglin AFB as director of personnel for the Armament Division. He retired from the Air Force in 1990 after 30 years of commissioned service.

Hoyt left behind a devoted and loving wife, Deloris; a son, Hoyt L Prindle III of Jacksonville, Fla.; two daughters, Cyndi Welding of Vacaville, Calif., and Tina Brandon of Quincy, Fla. He was preceded in death by his father, Brig. Gen. Hoyt L. Prindle Sr. and his mother, who was lovingly known as "Mama Chris."

(Bill Goodyear, '60)