Wes Schaeffer at the Air Force Academy.

Joseph Wesley Schaeffer, aka Joe, Joey, Fido, Chum, Wes, Wesley. B.S. in Geography from USAFA Class of 1992. B.S. in Meteorology from Texas A&M Class of 1993. PhD from the “School of Hard Knocks.”

This picture was taken in the Spring of 1991 in preparation for the yearbook that would come out the following year, which is when I graduated from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. The date was May 27, 1992. It was a cold (41˚), overcast day. To this day it’s the only day the Thunderbirds did not fly overhead during the graduation ceremony.

Dan Quayle was the Vice President and gave the commencement address. I got to meet him briefly on stage. He was a pretty good guy, despite the way the media portrays him but that’s neither here nor there.

May 27, 1992 remains a special day for me. Along with:

September 30, 1995 – my wedding anniversary.

• April 22, 1997 – my first child’s birthday. (A boy.)
• April 17, 1998 – my second child’s birthday. (Another boy and, yes, under a year apart!)
• February 7, 2000 – my first daughter’s birthday.
• April 24, 2002 – my second daughter’s birthday. (What’s up with April? My birthday is in April, also.)
• October 22, 2005 – my third daughter’s birthday.
• November 13, 2007 – my fourth daughter’s birthday.

The Schaeffer 8 (plus Decker) - November 2011