By STAFF SGT. JEREMY MCGUFFIN
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Col. Charles Brown Jr., 19th Airlift Wing commander, presented the 2016 Team Little Rock Cornerstone Award to Billie Ann Myers and her late husband Oliver (Dub) Myers at a Little Rock Air Force Base Community Council meeting Tuesday.
The Team Little Rock Corner-stone Award was created to honor a prominent civic leader who exemplifies outstanding service and commitment to the men and women of Little Rock Air Force Base and continues to strengthen the foundation set by the founders of Little Rock Air Force Base.
Brown said the Myers achieved this through their lifelong commitment to supporting the military
Brown said they embodied what it means to be not only leaders in the local community but steadfast supporters of the base and its airmen.
“There’s a special bond that develops when we see those that continue to serve even after they have left the military service for civil service,” Brown said.
“They as leaders see the value in what we do, so they gather together with the local community and provide services by looking out for each other, taking care of families whose loved ones are deployed and continuing to serve selflessly,” he said.
A steadfast advocate for themilitary and the surrounding community, Dub Myers was a member of the community council and the military affairs chairman for the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce.
His efforts were recognized with an appointment as honorary first sergeant, an honorary chief master sergeant and eventually the honorary commander of the 61st Airlift Squadron.
Just as stalwart in her commitment to the community, Billie Ann Myers attended every event with her husband. She accepted their Cornerstone Award in behalf of her husband, who passed away in 2012.
“My biggest regret is that Oliver is not here to accept this award,” Billie Ann said. “He truly loved this base, loved the people who work on it and the people who supported the base. It’s not hard to serve Little Rock Air Force base because the base is Jacksonville, it is central Arkansas, and it does so many wonderful things day in and day out while taking care of us. Thank you so much for this recognition, and I’m proud we were considered family.”
(Editors note: Oliver “Dub” Myers served as a brigadier general and former commander of the 39th Infantry Brigade of the Arkansas Army National Guard before retiring. He continued to serve the Arkansas community as a civic leader.)
