HonoringVets: Richard Toliver

Credit: Tass Mimikos | Date Taken: 08/30/2020
While growing up in America during World War II, Richard Toliver was enchanted by aircraft soaring the skies. He resolved to fly a plane of his own one day. People scoffed at Toliver becoming an Air Force pilot because he was a Black man in the South. His daily encounters with racial segregation intensified his personal doubts about becoming a pilot. His hopes of flying became reality when he was admitted to the Tuskegee Institute. During orientation, Toliver met members of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black aviators in the Air Force. This inspired him to join the school’s Air Force ROTC program. After completing school and with guidance from Tuskegee Airmen, Toliver joined the Air Force. During his 26 years of service in the Air Force, Toliver flew over 4,000 hours across the world. He served in Vietnam and flew the skies of Europe, North Africa and the Persian Gulf. He qualified for TOPGUN school, a multi-week training program which accepts only the best aviation pilots in the U.S. Toliver was also among the first pilots to test the F-15 at Luke Air Force Base in 1974. Toliver defied the odds against him, serving his nation as a fighter pilot. We honor his service