Lion Joe was born in Washington D.C., his nation’s capitol and attended school in Maryland. After high school he attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Virginia where he was an active “caver” and belonged to the Air Force ROTC. But, Lion Joe had a deep desire to fly and joined the U.S. Air Force. Lion Joe married Yvonne during his training in Sacramento, California and together they raised five sons. They are very proud of all of their sons, two of which obtained PhD’s. During this time of raising children and attending ball games, Joe and Yvonne became Foster Parents and adopted a 12 year old boy they call their own. While in the Air Force Lion Joe flew B-52 Bombers as a Radar Navigator. Joe had six combat tours in Vietnam, over 350 combat missions and was awarded medals and ribbons too numerous to mention. Lion Joe spent the last 8 years of his 28 years in the Air Force as Chief of Intelligence on the Airborne Command Post. These around the clock operations during the cold war insured our adversaries we were ready for any global conflict.

After retirement from the Air Force, Joe and Yvonne worked for a major log home company where Joe won honors as top salesman. After a few years they started their own log home company and a little later another company that constructs homes using ICF’s (Insulated Concrete Forms).

This kept them extremely busy but Yvonne and Joe wanted to do more. They joined their local Lions Club in Hill City, South Dakota and have been very active in Lions and Cub Scouts. Joe has been Packmaster for the Cub Scouts where he initiated a clean up and remodeling project of the Scout Hall.

Joe has been President of the Hill City Lions Club, on the Board of Directors, Zone Chairman and active in all service projects. Lion Joe is looking forward to continuing his work in Lions as District Governor.

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