James Moulton Keck was born in Scranton, PA and was the only child of his parents, Righter and Helen Keck. His family traveled during the Depression, living in Pennsylvania, New York, and Rhode Island. In Rhode Island, Jim attended Cranston High School, where he met his future wife, Barbara (Bobbie) Fleck. His proudest moment as a young man was joining the Long Gray Line. Throughout his life, the Long Gray Line remained his rock and his foundation. Duty, Honor, Country were not just ideals taught at West Point, but a way of life for Jim Keck.
DUTY: When Jim Keck attended a Civilian-Military Training Corps summer camp before his senior year at Cranston High School, he knew he wanted to pursue a military career. After attending Brown University for a semester, he enrolled in the Class of 1944, a class that, because of World War II, was accelerated a year, becoming the Class of June 1943. Graduating in the first class to graduate with pilot wings, Jim joined the Army Air Corps. After marrying Bobbie on the day after graduation, he served two tours in Europe, flying 44 missions out of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in his beloved B-24 Liberator, “The world’s most beautiful airplane.” Due to attrition, it was statistically impossible to complete two tours. When asked how he survived, he’d modestly say, “We were lucky.” He went on to pilot many more aircraft, including the Mach 3 SR-71, which he and son Tom were the only father and son to fly. He continued his education at the Naval War College and the National War College. Jim served in many command and staff positions, including inspector general, comptroller, and Operations, Intelligence, Personnel, Plans and Material Command assignments that included base commander at Pease AFB, NH, commander of two B-52 Wings at Robins AFB, GA and Ramey AFB, P.R., commander of the 17th Aerospace Division at Whitman AFB, MO, and Commander of Second Air Force at Barksdale AFB, LA. His last military career assignment in the Air Force was as a lieutenant general serving as Vice CINCSAC at Offutt AFB, NE for nearly four years at the height of the Cold War.
HONOR: Jim Keck’s philosophy for success was simple: Do your job well, and do it honorably. He backed up this philosophy with his actions. During his Air Force career, Jim earned many awards and decorations, including two Distinguished Service Medals, two Legion of Merits, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and four Air Medals. After his retirement in Omaha, he volunteered to sit on 31 different boards, including serving as chairman of the board of St. Joseph Hospital, president of the United Way, and chairman of the board of the Air Force Association’s (AFA) Aerospace Education Foundation. He also served as the national commander of the Daedalions, a fraternal flying organization. In 2009, he was inducted into the Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame and received the “key” to the city of Cranston. In 2016, he received the AFA Lifetime Achievement Award for peerless support to airmen and their families.
COUNTRY: Jim was a true patriot and loved serving his country when called. He would teach his children and grandchildren, “If you don’t like the way things are, get involved and change it.” In 1982, after being asked by President Reagan to run for the U.S. Senate, he and Bobbie campaigned across the state of Nebraska as the Republican candidate, which included 71 county fairs and many wonderful experiences. While he didn’t win the election, neither he nor Bobbie regretted the decision to run.
When Jim and Bobbie decided to retire to Air Force Village (now Blue Skies of Texas) in San Antonio after 34 years of military service, along with 10 years in the corporate world working as a Vice President at Bozell & Jacobs Marketing, Jim’s service didn’t stop. He was chairman of the Residents Council, chairman of the Protestant Church Board, and a trustee for the AF Village Board. He and Bobbie spearheaded the campaign to build and furnish the High Flight Chapel, and Jim chaired the committee to raise money to build the swimming pool. Together they started the monthly birthday and anniversary celebrations, the annual New Year’s Eve parties, and organized the first tours for delegates to the annual meeting.
After an introduction to horses at West Point, Jim and Bobbie owned eight horses over time that gave them many years of riding pleasure. Of serious note, even after 34 years in the Air Force, when Army played Air Force in football, they still cheered for Army!
Jim was predeceased by his beloved wife of 71 years, Bobbie, and is interred with her at West Point. He is survived by his daughter Bonnie (Rich) Gardner, son Tom (Karen) Keck, daughter Sunny (JD) Lawson, nine grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. His family was the center of his life, and they learned by his example: “Leave every assignment and place better than you found it!” He left a spark in each of his family members and friends that will shine light for generations to come. Jim Keck, an American Leader and Airman, lived his life by his word and deed leaving the world a better place.
“To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded” (Ralph Waldo Emerson).
— His son, Tom, USAFA ’69