USAFA Class Heritage Class of 1963

I graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Rockne, Texas in 1957 and enlisted in the United States Air Force immediately afterwards.  I had assignments in South Carolina and Virginia and in 1959 I was sponsored by Representative Homer Thornberry to attend the USAF Academy.  I graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1963 and was assigned to Undergraduate Pilot Training at Reese AFB, Texas.

I fulfilled a boyhood dream when I was awarded my Air Force pilot wings in 1964.  I was then assigned to crew training in the C-130 at Forbes AFB, Kansas, for two years and then spent almost three years flying the C-130 in Saigon, RVN.

After the combat tour, I was assigned to fly the C-130 at Dyess AFB, Texas, and then was assigned as the Air Liaison Officer to III Corps and flew the C-118 at Fort Hood, Texas. In 1971 I was sent to Texas A & M University to do graduate work and in 1973 I received and MS degree in Nuclear Physics.

I was then assigned to Strategic Air Command Headquarters where I worked in the Intelligence Division and also flew the T-39.

In 1976 I was sent to Maxwell AFB, Alabama, to complete Air Command and Staff College.  Following graduation in 1977, I was selected to be on the faculty of the College and additionally served as an Instructor and an Examiner in the T-39.

Selected for for Lieutenant Colonel in 1981, I elected to retire that year.  I was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 7 Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, both the Army and the Air Force Commendation Award, and other awards for service.

I have always been an avid aviator and was very active in general aviation.  I have an Airline Pilot Certificate in both Single and Multiengine Land, as well as, Commercial Seaplane and Glider ratings.  Included in my 25,000  flying hours, 9,500 were as an instructor.  In 1991, I was named national Flight Instructor of the Year.  I also served twenty years as a FAA Pilot Examiner and twenty-five years as an Accident Prevention Counselor.

In 2005, I was inducted to the Alabama Aviator Hall of Fame for my contributions to aviation safety and in 2007, I was awarded the FAA Master Pilot Award honoring fifty years of safe pilot operations.

My family and I have lived in the Montgomery area since my retirement.

35th Reunion (1998): I retired from the Air Force in July 1981, and my family has lived in the Montgomery, AL area ever since. My post-Air Force career has been many faceted, but flying has been the major activity. I served as Chief Pilot and Manager of the Maxwell-Gunter Aero Club for two years, then went to work for a local construction company flying the Turbo Commander, the Citation II and Citation SII until they closed the flight department in 1988. I was in charge of all aviation activities for Auburn University for a year, and then elected to go with Eastern Airlines. I was trained as a Boeing 727 captain and flew in that seat until Eastern closed its doors in 1991. Since that time I have been a corporate pilot for the Colonial Bank flying captain on a Citation V Ultra. Our four boys are all back in Montgomery after having spread out over the country—two in the Navy, one in the Coast guard, and another in industry. Our oldest, Michael, is a processor repairman and is completing a master’s degree in Political science. Last year he ran for the US House of Representatives on the Libertarian ticket. Bryan is assistant manager at a deli and has a degree in Psychology. The twins, Neil and Wayne, are married. Neil is about to finish his degree in English and is an editor for the Montgomery Advertiser. Wayne works as an exterminator. Penny and I celebrated our 34th Wedding Anniversary in June 1997. Penny works at home with church activities and usually has a foster child keeping her busy. Neil and his wife presented us with our first grandchild, Noah, in April so it looks like the line of Probst boys will continue. In addition to my corporate flying, I have been busy in other capacities. I do a lot of airplane and glider instructing and have been a Pilot Examiner in this area since 1985. I was especially proud to have been selected as the National FAA Flight Instructor of the Year in 1991. I have just gone past 16,000 hours and have flown 115 different models of aircraft as a PIC. We also do a lot of traveling in our restored 1946 Cessna 120. If you’re in the area, please give us a call. Our E-Mail is 10511.2577@compuserve.