[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 70 (Wednesday, June 3, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SALUTE TO COL. JERRY E. KNOTTS, USAF (RET.)

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELTON GALLEGLY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 3, 1998

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, each year the Conejo Valley, California, 
Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars presents its Red, White 
and Blue Ball to perpetuate the spirit of patriotism. At the Ball, each 
year an individual is honored who has demonstrated exceptional 
patriotism and who has made significant contributions to the community. 
This year, on June 6, 1998, an outstanding individual, Colonel Jerry E. 
Knotts, USAF (Retired) will be presented with a special Patrick Henry 
Medallion as the ``Patriotic Citizen of the Year.''
  I am pleased to call Colonel Knotts a friend. Jerry retired from the 
Air Force with 24 years of service. His last assignment was as 
commander of the Washington Area Contracting Center at Andrews Air 
Force Base. He was responsible for Air Force procurement throughout the 
Nation's Capital, and a region from the Azores to Saint Louis, His 
responsibilities included the White House and the Presidential VIP 
aircraft fleet.
  As part of the Defense Logistics Agency, Jerry previously oversaw 
production of aircraft gas turbine engines, diesel engines, and armored 
vehicle transmissions at Detroit Diesel Allison of Indianapolis, 
Indiana. His career also included fourteen years in the Big Safari 
special reconnaissance program at General Dynamics in Forth Worth, 
Texas; E-Systems in Greenville, Texas; and Lockheed Aircraft Services 
in Ontario, California. Jerry was responsible for creating and flight 
testing a number of specially configured aircraft, including the Combat 
Sent, Combat Talon, Cobra Ball, Rivet Joint and many others. During 
1968, he completed 112 missions over North Vietnam in an F-105 Wild 
Weasel.
  For his outstanding service to our nation, Jerry received the Legion 
of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal 
with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters, 
and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
  Today, Jerry is manager of financial programs for the California 
Manufacturing Technology Center and serves as a Ventura County Airport 
Commissioner. He and his wife, Many, and daughter, Stephanie, have been 
residents of Thousand Oaks since 1984. Since his retirement from the 
Air Force, Jerry has devoted thousands of hours to a multitude of 
charitable organizations. He currently is chairman and president of the 
Thousand Oaks Youth Leadership Conference, the Westlake Village 
Cultural Foundation, and the Stagecoach Inn Museum Foundation, which he 
created.
  He also has been active in the leadership of the Community Leaders 
Club, the Conejo Symphony, the Conejo Valley Historical Society, the 
Conejo Valley Genealogical Society, the Conejo Futures Foundation and 
several fraternal organizations. For the past 15 years, Jerry has been 
responsible for the majority of the patriotic ceremonies held in the 
Conejo Valley. He is the past commander of Conejo Valley Chapter of the 
Military Order of the World Wars and has served as master of ceremonies 
for the organization's Red, White and Blue Ball for 11 years.
  For his remarkable public service, Jerry has received numerous 
awards. In 1996 he was honored by the Conjeo Valley Historical Society. 
That same year, Jerry and his wife, Mary, both received the William E. 
Hamm Award from the California Lutheran University Community Leaders 
Club. Jerry also has been honored for his community service by having a 
seat designated in his name in the Thousand Oaks Civic Center Forum 
Theater. He previously received the Outstanding Service Award and the 
Silver Patrick Henry Medal from the Military Order of the World Wars.
  Mr. Speaker, my friend Colonel Jerry Knotts exemplifies the best 
spirit of patriotism and service to our Nation and his community. I ask 
my colleagues to join me in congratulating him on being named the 
Patriotic Citizen of the Year and for being selected to receive the 
Patrick Henry Medallion.

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