Gone But Not Forgotten Marvin W. Buss, ’59 Marvin Wayne Buss passed away with courage and grace at home Feb. 10, 2014. He grew up in Holton, Kans. the youngest of five children of George and Kathryn Buss and graduated from Holton High School. After attending Kansas University for two years, he found his way to the Air Force Academy. At the Academy, Marv was the rare individual who had the same roommate, Clark Lovrien, after Doolie summer to graduation. (In fact, after graduation they were roommates again in both Basic Pilot Training and Advanced Pilot Training.) At the Academy Marv was known as a tough competitor in sports who didn’t quit. He was an equally tough competitor in bridge, yet had a great sense of humor and a dry wit no matter the situation. Marv was smart, got good grades, enjoyed sports and loved the Austin Healy he got just before graduation. After graduating, Marv went to Basic Pilot Training at Webb AFB and Advanced at Stead AFB. Upon graduation from Stead, but before reporting to their first operational assignment, Marv and Clark checked in with their respective homes in Kansas and Wisconsin and planned a trip to Rio de Janeiro. Before hitting the road again, they took their beautiful new sports cars and headed for the famous Road America racetrack. It wasn’t open but Marv Buss that didn’t stop them and they found a way to get on the track and let it rip. What a grand time they had. Then it was onto Charleston S.C. for a MATS C-121 Constellation Space Available Embassy run to Rio and a great adventure. After those grand adventures Marv reported to Lincoln AFB, Neb. where he met the love of his life and future wife, Lynn. In 1965 Marv graduated from the RAF Empire Test Pilot School and then did a two-year exchange with the RAF at their main testing base, Boscombe Down. Upon return to the U.S. he separated and went to work for a start-up company as a test pilot for their very innovative tandem-rotor rigid-rotor helicopter. He later attended Kansas University and received his Master of Engineering degree. He worked as a civilian test pilot and engineer for the Army at Edwards AFB and in St. Louis. He was co-author of a series of engineering flight test publications on the AH-1G Huey Cobra covering everything from airworthiness and flight characteristics to specialized equipment such as the stabilized night sight. The pride of his life was his three sons, their wives and his six grandchildren. Regular family trips to Kansas and Nebraska as well as coaching and attending countless sporting events served to bind the family together. Marv and Lynn bought, remodeled and lived in several houses in St. Louis, and traveled extensively after retirement. He will be remembered for his passionate interest in human rights and the environment, his curiosity about many things and the world around him, a taste for fine whiskey and good cars and a love for animals. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.
For more current information about graduate deaths, please visit the AOG web site. www.usafa.org. If you know of a graduate’s death, please notify the AOG as soon as possible. There have been cases in which the association was not informed in a timely manner.
June 2014 Checkpoints Online Edition
Marvin is survived by his wife of 50 years, Lynda Haynes Buss; children Michael (Mary), Jonathan (Catherine), and Matthew (Jane), as well as their children. He is additionally survived by his siblings Edward Buss, Luella Dick and Leota Ester. (Marv’s family and classmates)
Conrad M. “Casey” Kay, ’59 Conrad Michael “Casey” Kay passed away on March 18, 2014 when the bicycle he was riding was struck by a car. He was born in Santa Fe, N.M. to Arthur and Selma Kay and raised in Taos. Casey came to the Academy after three years at the New Mexico Military Institute. At the Academy he starred as a gymnast and cheerleader. After graduation came pilot training and a stint as an Instructor Pilot at Webb AFB. There he met and married the love of his life, Rosalind Rubinow. They celebrated their 50th Anniversary in December. Just a year after Casey and Roz were married he was off to Vietnam as an IP for the Vietnam Air Force. Apparently the likelihood of future remote assignments did not sit so well with Casey because upon his return he signed on with American Airlines. That change of careers probably went well with Roz and their two daughters, Jennifer and Rachel. It also suited Casey’s love of flying. Casey wanted to experience flying of any kind. In the ’70s he was a member of the International Aerobatic Club and a judge for the International Aero“Casey” Kay batics championships in the Soviet Union in 1976. He served as the manager/treasurer of the American team. Later he joined the Texas Soaring Association (TSA) flying both sailplanes and tow aircraft. When he began flying for Mercy Med Flight as a pilot and Chief of Operations he combined his instincts to volunteer with his love of flying. But he didn’t limit his volunteering to things involving flying. He tutored adults with reading difficulties and was involved with reading for the blind and disadvantaged persons and recording newspapers and books for both adults and children. With that kind of resume it is no surprise that Casey was honored by Governor Rick Perry with the presentation of the 2004 Volunteer of the Year Award. In his spare time Casey loved his Texas Rangers and his motorcycle. He was known to drive the motorcycle down to Houston from Dallas just to get together with a few classmates. The words of his friends tell everything: “Casey was the quiet one, but he always seemed very sensitive and polite to everyone he met. He wasn’t a bragger – he was a great listener and thinker.” “He was one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet; a pilot with flight in his soul, and he gave a huge effort to make TSA a safer place.” “Casey was the kindest, most generous, caring and compassionate person I ever met. He had the gift of words and the heart of a poet.” A classmate put it all together. “I don’t think many in our class realize what an amazing guy Casey was. From competing nationally on his unicycle, to riding motorcycles long distances, to riding both his recumbent and road bikes for 100-mile rides. Aviation: traveling with the USA Aerobatic team, to flying air ambulance flights, to the present of towing and flying sailplanes. He was definitely one of the top aviators of our class. On top of all that, he was on the top of my list as one of the most considerate and nicest guys I’ve known.” Preceding him in death are his parents and sister Eva Jolton. Those left to cherish his memory are beloved wife, Rosalind Kay; two daughters, Jennifer Kay (Steve Lord) and Rachel Kay. He leaves two wonderful grandsons who he loved dearly, Jonathan and David Lord. He will be remembered. (Casey’s family, friends and Ed Josephson, ’59) 105