Wing celebrates top performers at the swanky 2014 annual awards gala

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Lauren Gleason
  • 507th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
(Editor's note: This story is written in a 1920's journalistic style for fun) An annual awards banquet was held under the auspices of the 507th Air Refueling Wing, of which Col. Brian S. Davis is commander.  The gala began in the evening of Dec. 6th, when some two hundred Airmen of the world's greatest air force patronized the swanky Sheraton Hotel ballroom at 5750 Will Rogers Road in Midwest City.

The early comers strolled into the joint before 6:30pm and certainly looked keen in their get-ups, wearing mess dress and semi-formal blues uniforms.  The social hour continued until 7:00 p.m. with guests ordering cocktails from the gin mill and shot the breeze. 

Tech. Sgt. Angela Leddy and Senior Airman Mark Hybers were the Masters of Ceremony for the evening's festivities, and they were both live wires!  Master Sergeant Angela Thompson performed the National Anthem, much to the delight of the audience. 

Chaplain Keith Rogers offered the invocation, praying that a good time would be had by all that evening.

In a somber moment, the emcees led the crowd in a silent toast to pay special tribute to prisoners of war and those missing in action, and to the success of the efforts to account for them.

Distinguished guests in attendance were Lt. Col. Kenneth Humphrey and his keen wife; Colonel Travis Caughlin and his lovely wife; Col. Joseph Revit and his stunning wife; Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Brown and his delightful wife; and last but not least, the host of the evening, Col. Brian Davis and his charming wife and beautiful daughter. 

Community partners from the city of Moore came to celebrate as well; Ms. Kathy Gillette of the Moore Chamber of Commerce and Ms. Jan Davis, Branch Manager of Tinker Federal Credit Union were the cat's meow and brought goodie bags for the annual award recipients.

A delicious meal was presented for all to enjoy, consisting of lemon chicken piccata topped with capers, rosemary roasted mashed potatoes, autumn vegetables, fresh garden salad, and decadent cake for dessert, as well as a vegetarian option.

After dinner, emcees Senior Airman Hybers and Tech. Sgt Leddy razzed the guests cracked jokes, before getting down to the Real McCoy: the annual award winners.

And the winners of the 507th ARW Annual awards for 2014 are:

Spouse of the Year, Mrs. Christine Nichols
Civilian of the Year, Mrs. Kimberley Silkwood
Airman of the Year, Staff Sgt. Will Beary 
NCO of the Year, Tech Sgt. Heather Bennett
NCO of the Year, Master Sgt. Adrain Smith
First Sergeant of the Year, Master Sgt. Darrin Oglesby
CGO of the Year, Capt. Britnee McIntyre
MXG 2014 Billy Hughes Memorial Award, Master Sgt. Marcus W. Bentley

Col. Davis expressed his appreciation for the outstanding efforts of the top performers in the wing and thanked everyone for joining him for such a swell evening.  A good time was had by all!