On October 27, 1999 Chris [Warack] suffered a major heart attack while at work in Colorado Springs. His sudden and unexpected death leaves a void in all of us who knew this great man.

Chris came to the Academy from Gagetown, Mich. where he was valedictorian of his high school class. He studied agricultural engineering at Michigan State University before entering USAFA in 1956. While at the Academy, Chris was one of the true leaders of the Class of 1960. He was squadron commander of the 4th Cadet Squadron and was the peer elected honor representative for the squadron. He was an offensive lineman on the 1958 football team, which to this day remains the only undefeated team in Academy history.

After graduation, Chris attended pilot training at Spence AB, Ga. and Reese AFB, Texas. He received his pilot wings in September 1961 and immediately returned to Colorado Springs to marry his love, Patricia Clark, in a wonderful bash at the Broadmoor.

He served a full active-duty career primarily with the Military Airlift Command where he started as pilot on C-124 "Shakey" and rose to the MAC Inspector General's office. Along the way, he served as: pilot and aircraft commander at Dover AFB and McChord AFB; as duty controller with the 605th Military Airlift Support Squadron at Andersen AFB, Guam; as the commander of the Airlift Control Element at Phu Cat Air Base, Vietnam; and as assistant chief at 7t Air Force for all ALCE's in SEA. He commanded the 14th Military Airlift Squadron at Norton AFB and the 619th Military Airlift Support Squadron at Hickam AFB, which included detachments in New Zealand and Australia. He flew more than 8,000 hours during his worldwide flings with the Airlift Command. One of Chris' most extraordinary stories is that of flying an F- 104 non-stop, without refueling, from Germany to the U.S. The F-104 was, of course, neatly stowed inside the C-124 that Chris commanded.

Chris maintained his deep roots with the Academy and in 1972 took an assignment as assistant football coach. His duties included scouting and recruiting as well as flying theT-29 in support of the cadet navigational training program. In 1974 he became the head coach of the Academy Prep School football program.

Chris' final active-duty assignment was Chief of Staff, 4th Air Force (ARIES), McClellan AFB, Calif. He retired from active duty on 1 May 1989 and settled his family in Monument, Colo. He became very active in his church and community affairs, took up a second career as a realtor, and actively supported the Academy.

We remember that during our cadet years we studied and discussed many concepts such as duty, honor, ethics, responsibility, compassion, preparedness, dedication, etc. We spent many hours in the classroom and even more time among ourselves talking and reading about these abstract qualities. It is one thing to study concepts and how they were manifest in the great leaders of the past. But putting those principles into action in every day life is quite another ball game. Chris by his daily example showed us how this should he done.

His every action was a reflection of the word "responsibility". He believed that every single action must be accountable; everything must he done to your utmost best. His every word was straightforward and was what he meant. When something was not quite proper, he knew how to cut right to the core and in simple terms explain what should be done. Not with airs of superiority or admonitions, but with care, understanding and zero tolerance.

Oh, he had his disagreements with the way things went sometimes. He didn't necessarily agree with every policy or directive from above. But, in action he never knowingly acted contrary to what he thought was expected of him. That's hard to do. Think about that: never do, say, or even imply anything that is contrary to your accepted responsibilities. In my mind that's Chris; a pillar of strength. I have often thought of him when wrestling with hard life decisions. Early on in our year together he stated very simply a thought that I have tried to pass on to my children "when you look at yourself in the mirror, are you proud of what you see?" He did not originate that statement, but he really did live by the principle.

So, Chris demonstrated the concepts of duty, honor, compassion and much more. His actions and words always reflected what he considered to be his responsibility. In a nutshell, he integrated all of those marvelous values and concepts into his everyday life. He lived the example of the whole. And that is the definition of integrity: the positive integration of many principles. Anti there you have it. Within the Class of '60, we were honored to have one shining example of the word integrity. Chris lived it and he showed us all how it could be done.

In one final tribute to our esteemed classmate, all members of the class that were able to be at the Cadet Chapel on November 1st served as honorary pallbearers as Chris was laid to rest on the Academy grounds. Fifteen of us walked behind our fallen classmate and served as a silent honor guard during the final playing of taps for him.

Chris is survived by his wife of 38 years, Patricia, and by three children and six grandchildren. His family and our Air Force family will miss him very much. He was nulli secundus.

(Tom Burke, '60)