Jim Orgeron

James (Jim) Orgeron retired from the Air Force after 20 years in 1989 in the rank of Lt. Col. He flew KC-135’s at Blytheville AFB and for a short period, RC-135’s at Offutt AFB. He received a graduate degree from AFIT which got him assignments at SAC Hq. and PACAF Hq. After retirement from the Air Force he taught in public schools for a short time then decided to change second careers and worked for the La. Dept. of Environmental Quality. He retired from the state in 2009.

Jim has been married to his wife, Lois, for 38 years. They have 3 children, (two are married) and 4 grandchildren.

James J. Orgeron — “Orge”

“Arriving at Columbus AFB from ‘Slack Slidell,’ La., Lt. Orgeron, or ‘The Orge’ as he is more commonly known (No one could learn to pronounce his name) immediately proceeded to drink his way through UPT…

A change was soon to come. After a string of multiple pinks in 38s, Jim decided to become a straight arrow… On the third day, he took off on a routine solo flight. Not being in his usual inebriated state, he saw no reason to raise the gear and flaps. At 280 he noticed the plane did not fly like it used to. He then remembered to retract the gear and flaps and came back and landed. He wrote up his error in the 781 and was promptly pinked for his honesty!”

71-01 Yearbook, page 49.