|
James S. Cassity Final Flight on December 30, 2008
James S. Cassity, Lt. Gen. USAF, (Retired) June 17, 1935 - December 30, 2008
|
Retired Lt. Gen. James S. Cassity, resident of Fair Oaks Ranch, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008.
Gen Cassity was born June 17, 1935, to Juanita and Shelby and considered Gary, Texas, his hometown. He was a 1958 graduate of Texas A&M University and received a Master of Science degree in systems management from the University of Southern California in 1969. In addition, he completed the Air War College, the Defense Systems Management College and the advanced management program at Harvard.
Gen. Cassity received his commission through ROTC in 1958 and earned his pilot wings at Laredo AFB. He was a command pilot with more than 4,500 flying hours, including 180 combat hours in helicopters during Vietnam. In 1964 he was assigned to Air Force Special Operations at Howard AFB, Canal Zone. From 1970 to 1974 he worked in the F-15 Systems Program Office at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio.
Gen. Cassity's communications and information career started in 1974 when he was assigned to Headquarters, Electronic Systems Division, Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts. He went on to lead a variety of C&I organizations including the Engineering Installation Center, served on the HQ USAFE staff as DCS for information systems, and the NORAD and Air Force Space Command DS for Communications. In 1988, he was appointed Commander, Air Force Communications Command. His final military assignment was Director, Command Control and Communications System for the Joint Staff which supported National Command Authority and specified commands on operations. He retired from the Air Force July 1, 1991. After his military retirement, Jim was vice president and general manager for C4 and Information Management Systems at BDM International and later TRW. He enjoyed working in the church, handing out Gideon Bibles and playing golf. Jim was married to Patricia Ann Smith on July 3, 1959. He is survived by her and by his children, Marcus Andrew Cassity and Judith Lynn Fitz and husband, Jim, and two grandchildren, Eric and Elena. His mother, Lily Juanita Cassity also survives her son. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 6, at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Boerne. A luncheon reception will follow. Burial with full military honors will be at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at 2:15 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the Gideon's International, San Antonio North West Camp No. 4223.5, P.O. Box 681505, San Antonio, Texas, 78268-1505, or First United Methodist Church, 205 James St., Boerne, Texas, 78006. To leave a message or a tribute for the family, please visit www.vaughanfuneralhome.com and select the obituaries icon. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Vaughan's Funeral Home of Boerne
TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY The Association Of Former Students James S. Cassity, Jr. ’57, Air Force Lt. Gen., Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Lt. Gen. Cassity was born in 1935 and considers Gary, Texas, his hometown. He was a 1958 graduate of Texas A&M University and received a Master of Science degree in systems management from the University of Southern California in 1969. He is a graduate of Defense Systems Management College, the Air War College and has completed Harvard Business School's advanced management program. He was was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program in 1958 and earned his pilot wings at Laredo Air Force Base, Texas. He is a command pilot with more than 4,500 flying hours, including 180 combat hours in helicopters. General Cassity's operational assignments include flying H-21 helicopters in support of missile testing at Hurlburt Field, Fla., in 1961 and 1962, then two years in the airborne early warning mission at Otis Air Force Base, Mass., as an EC-121 pilot and aircraft commander. Lt. Gen. James Cassity awards and decorations include Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. Lt. Gen. James S. Cassity, Jr. retired on July 1, 1991 and passed away on December 30, 2008.
~GUEST BOOK~ 12/30/2008 Marc and family; Sorry to hear about the loss of your father. I am glad I had the chance to meet your father and be a part of your family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time and always. Love, Mark & Lynn. ~ Mark & Lynn Jacobson, Jersey City, NJ 12/130/2008 Pat and family; I want you to know how sorry I am to get the bad news of Gen Cassity's passing. He's been a good friend for many years, and the Air Force communications and information community is one of many groups who will miss him dearly. Warmest personal regards, George Lampe. ! George Lampe, San Antonio, TX 12/30/2008 Dear Pat and Family, My thoughts and prayers are with you at this most difficult time. I was in total shock when I read of Jim's passing. I will always remember his warm smile and his love for God. He truly was a disciple of Christ. Hugs, Kathy Woodworth. ~ Kathy Woodworth, Boerne, TX 12/30/2008 Marc, My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Love, Jeff ~ Jeff Stitzel, Montville, NJ 12/30/2008 Dear Pat and Family, We were sorry to learn of Jim's passing and will keep you and the family in our thoughts and prayers, We so fondly remember Jim when we were all at TAME. Those were the days even thought we had little from the monitory stand point. Love to all, Charlie & Ann '57. ~ Charlie & Ann Orr, Kerrville, TX 12/30/2008 May he rest in peace. ~ Manny and Amy Naval, Judith's friends from Scott AFB, IL 12/30/2008 Judith, Jim, Eric, and Elena, We would like to express our deepest sympathy. Our hearts and prayers are with you during this difficult time and they will continue to be with you in the even more difficult days that lie ahead. God bless all of you, John, Barbie, Mel, and Josh Duncan. ~ Barbie Duncan, Belleville, IL 12/30/2008 I had the wonderful, rewarding and entertaining experience of being Jim's golf cart companion twice weekly for the past 6-7 years. We talked about and shared our personal and professional experiences regularly, and found out about our families, each other, as well as ourselves. I will always cherish those times together. I also know that Jim truly enjoyed golf with our group, and we are thankful we had the chance to know him at the end of his life. ~ George Harvey, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX 12/30/2008 My heart goes out to you and your family. My deepest sympathy to all. My thoughts and prayer are with you in your time of sorrow. Go in peace. Hugs! Jo ~ Jo Morris, Katy, TX 12/30/2008 Dear Marcus, My heart goes out to you and your family. I wish you peace and pray that you cherish the wonderful book of memories that your heart holds of your father. My sympathies and love to you. Debbie ~ Debra J. Chase, Murfreesboro, TN |
|
|
"FREEDOM ISN'T FREE" ~SOMEONE PAYS FOR YOU AND ME~ "HELICOPTERS" - THE ONLY WAY TO FLY ~NEVER FORGOTTEN~ |
|
