Earl W. Reynolds ’51

Earl W. Reynolds ’51—the oldest member of the class, arriving on campus as a 26-year-old freshman following combat duty as a major in the U.S. Army Air Force—died on December 24, 2012, in Marissa, Illinois. Recalled to service in the Korean conflict after graduation, he served in the Air Force for 43 years of military and civilian duty, retiring in 1984 as a colonel. He is survived by three children, 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Earl grew up in Norwich, Vermont, and attended Hanover High School. He enlisted 11 days after Pearl Harbor. Following flight training he flew combat missions over Europe as a B-17 pilot. During the course of his career he logged more than 5,000 hours as a pilot and flight operations commander, receiving numerous commendations. In 1966 he moved to a civilian role, becoming director of management analysis at several Air Force locations in the United States and Turkey. He also served as an associate professor of air science at St. Louis University. Upon retirement he was recognized with the Air Force Outstanding Civilian Career Service Award. Earl and his family lived for many years in Marissa, where he was active in leadership roles in his church, Rotary Club, Lions Club and American Legion. He was an avid outdoorsman. At Dartmouth he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and attended the Tuck School. He later received an M.B.A. from the Air Force Institute of Technology.