RBC 4-H alumnus in hall of fame

RBC I The Colorado 4-H Hall of Fame was established in 2011 to recognize 4-H alumni who have made significant contributions or accomplishments in their lives and attribute those accomplishments to their 4-H experience. The 2012 4-H Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place July 21 on the Colorado State University campus during the concluding banquet of the Colorado 4-H state conference. Rio Blanco County’s Tony Seely was inducted into the Colorado 4-H Hall of Fame.
While Tony Seely participated in various 4-H projects in Rio Blanco County, the leadership opportunities that 4-H offered were what he was passionate about and where he excelled. In 1981 Tony served as Colorado State 4-H President.
Some of Colonel Tony Seely’s notable accomplishments include: After pilot training, he flew the A-10 (a.k.a. “tank killers”) in Europe at the height of the Cold War, 1987-1990; flew the F-117 stealth fighter at the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada; flew as Air Force Thunderbirds Right Wing demonstration pilot from 1994-1996; returned to the Air Force after the 911 terrorist attacks, working at the pentagon, initially as chief of reserve fighter requirements, and later implementing and leading the AF reserve chief’s action group.
In his performance report, the AF reserve commander (3-star) commented, “Tony is the best lieutenant colonel I’ve ever known.”
He finished his military career serving as deputy director of analysis and assessments at the European Combatant Command in Stuttgart, Germany.
Seely credits his 4-H experiences as key to developing the leadership skills and experience necessary for acceptance into the Air Force Academy.
“With each position I’ve held in the Air Force, I’ve continued to grow and fine tune the leadership skills that were built on the foundation of the skills I learned in 4-H,” he stated.
Biographical information of the 16 Colorado 4-H Hall of Fame laureates can be viewed at http://4h.colostate.edu/hall-of-fame/index.php.
To nominate a worthy 4-H alumnus from your county, contact your local county extension office for information regarding the nomination process.