Frank L "Big Frank" PANELLI

I got to the "Red Hat" test world at Edwards AFB in May 1982, from a completely different Operational AF world. My very first Monday Red Hat introduction was with Frank! Me a young SSgt in uniform meeting Frank a big heavy voiced MSgt in civilian clothes who was about to be carted off elsewhere. Needless to say I was welcomed in a way that wasn't what someone would expect on a first encounter. I learned more in that one encounter the proper way to use unpleasant words, that even me as a...

Frank was my Flight Chief in the military. From the first day I met him, he took me under his arm and made sure that I was well taken care of. My first weekend at Edwards, Frank told me, "you're coming to my house for dinner" I didn't know anyone, didn't have a car, didn't have any plans, so I had dinner at his house! I also had the pleasure of meeting Susan, and the spaghetti was awesome! Frank took care of his people, he was the best supervisor I had in the military. We crossed paths many...

Dear Family.....
My deepest sympathy.
Frank always had a smile ........Richard Cox, State Farm Insurance