By Lori Kerns, Librarian

Jack Horsley was born in Sheridan, Wyoming on January 11,1937. He was one of the thirteen children, four girls and nine boys. When Jack was born, he was unable to digest milk. A doctor was flown in from Denver to help him, which was highly irregular in the 1930’s. Jack was given IV fluids and spent six months in the hospital. He was also lucky to find that he could tolerate goat’s milk.

Growing up, Jack loved to play football, go skiing, play hockey, and do other winter sports since he lived in Wyoming. He said that he was very good at sports. In his senior year he had only morning classes. Once his classes ended for the day, he would go to the library and read for the rest of the afternoon.

Jack had plans to attend college right after graduation but a tornado hit the area where he lived. Instead of college, he decided to enlist in the Navy. Once he finished boot camp at Great Lakes and prep school in Oklahoma, Jack was sent to air traffic control school in Olathe, KS. His air traffic control career had him stationed throughout the United States and the world. He has also served aboard the USS Forrestal and USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. As an air traffic controller, Jack would land aircraft one minute apart. He worked with fighters, attack aircraft, prop-driven aircraft, and heavy jets. He was also chosen to train reserves. Jack retired as Chief Petty Officer in Norfolk, VA.

After retirement from the military, Jack became the production chief in dietetics at the VA in Sheridan, WY. Once he left this position, Jack continued to give back to his community by volunteering in long-term care with the VA. He also volunteered with his local school system and local hospitals.

Jack is the proud father of four children and two grandchildren. In his spare time he is an avid walker, he loves to take photographs, and he LOVES to read. Some of Jack’s photography can be seen on display in the Art Gallery here at AFRH-G.