RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
The newly-renovated conference room of Bldg. 854 was dedicated to a former member of Air Education and Training Command in a ceremony April 14.
Approximately 150 family, friends and coworkers gathered outside for a ceremony dedicating the conference room to Kurt Stillman, the former AETC chief of acquisition and data management who died recently after several decades of service to the Air Force.
The ceremony started as many military ceremonies do with an introduction by a narrator, followed by the arrival of the official party, singing of the National Anthem and an invocation.
Colonel Robinson, the presiding official, was joined by Mr. Stillman's family, Phyllis Stillman, his wife, and Karen Teale, his twin sister.
The various guest speakers - former coworkers, supervisors and friends - illustrated Mr. Stillman's long career in the Air Force, where he started as a crew chief for heavy cargo aircraft serving in Air Force bases all over Asia and the United States. He retired as a master sergeant after serving 20 years.
"We're here today to celebrate Kurt Stillman," said Col. Thomas Robinson, AETC Contracting Division commander. "Kurt was an icon. I knew him for 20 years but I only met him once."
Colonel Robinson read quotes of Mr. Stillman's friends and former coworkers who couldn't make it to the ceremony. The messages told of a career of service and task-focused methodology which had a positive impact on people whose paths Mr. Stillman crossed.
In a statement read by Juan Lopez, Will Bishop said "I believe he made me a better person."
Mr. Lopez and Mr. Bishop both worked in Air Force Contracting with Mr. Stillman.
"He learned as much as he could about each organization, vastly improving the methods of invoicing and billing," John Conroy read in a statement about Mr. Stillman from Col. Chip Fulghum, AETC, Financial Management and Comptroller director. "He could see outside the stovepipe."
After the guests spoke, Colonel Robinson directed everyone's attention to a table to his left, covered in blue fabric. The fabric was removed to reveal a large plaque, a small bust and a scrapbook.
"This plaque commemorating Kurt's contribution to the command will be placed outside the conference room after the dedication," the colonel said. "In addition, we would like to present a plaque to Mrs. Stillman, symbolizing her unending devotion to Kurt and her continued dedication to the United States Air Force. The scrapbook was empty during the ceremony but will be filled with pictures of the ceremony after.
At the end of the ceremony, Colonel Robinson led Mrs. Stillman, followed by everyone else, to the entrance of the conference room on the building's street-facing eastern side where they ceremoniously cut the large red ribbon attached to the railings just outside the door.
After pausing for photographers, they cut the ribbon and entered the conference room where the reception guests continued the celebration of Mr. Stillman's life.