John S. "Jay" Baughman

Ret. Col. John Baughman FORT MYERS - Retired Col. John S. "Jay" Baughman, 63, formerly of Tallahassee, died Sunday, Aug. 8, 2004, at his home. A memorial service was Saturday at St. Hilary's Episcopal Church in Fort Myers. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity in Col. Baughman's name. Col. Baughman was married for 43 years to Karen Moore Baughman, who survives him and also is formerly of Tallahassee. He served with distinction for 27 years in the U.S. Air Force. Born in 1941 in Pittsburgh, Col. Baughman lived in Havana, Cuba, before moving to Tallahassee in 1947. He was a 1959 graduate of Florida High School, a 1963 Florida State University graduate and later was recipient of two master's degrees. Col. Baughman began his distinguished career as a pilot upon completion of the U.S. Air Force pilot-training program in 1964. From 1967 to 1968, he served as a rescue helicopter pilot with the flying Jolly Green Giants in Vietnam, where he brought many men to safety and survived being shot down. After Vietnam, he continued to fly C-141s and C-5s and commanded squadrons, operations units and a Military Airlift Command Wing for 27 years. He served as chief pilot of the Military Airlift Command at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., until his retirement in 1990. He received several medals, including the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Medal. Col. Baughman then relocated to Fort Myers and began his next career as a commercial airline pilot for American Trans Air. In addition to flying the L-1011 and 727 on civilian domestic and international flights, he flew several military contract missions to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, during Desert Shield/Desert Storm, to evacuate hundreds of Tutsies at gunpoint in Western Africa for the United Nations and to deliver humanitarian aid to Somalia in the early 1990s. After his cockpit career ended in 2002, he became active in his neighborhood and community. He derived great satisfaction from mentoring and aiding students, from Air Force Academy hopefuls to those interested in all areas of science. A member of the Lee County Substitute Teachers Board, he was very involved at Fort Myers High School. In addition to his wife, Col. Baughman is survived by two daughters, Lauren Elizabeth "Liz" Oberman (and husband William "Bill") of Naples and Katherine "Kathy" Baughman McLeod (and husband Andrew H. McLeod) of Tallahassee; four grandchildren, Gage, Evan and John Reese Oberman and Fiona Baughman Cronin; a great aunt, Katherine Cowles of Tallahassee; and cousins David Cowles (and wife Carla), Kitty Watkins (and husband Ernest) and Becky Mason, all of Tallahassee, and Ruel Cowles (and wife Lisa) of Lexington, Ky., James Ward II and Dottie Stickney of Asheville, N.C., Richard H. and Sandy Stickney or Raleigh, N.C., and Charles B. II and Marilyn Carroll of Littleton, Col. Jay was best known for his willingness and eagerness to help any fellow human being. Family and friends describe him as a consummate patriot who exemplified honor, integrity and the best of the American spirit.