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<em>Albert Franklin Oppel </em>was born in Dallas, TX, the second son of Curt and Madge Swint Oppel. Named after both of his grandfathers, Al was known as “Franklin” until the second grade, when he decided to be known as “Al.” This was not to be his last name change. As a child, Al’s older brother Richard called him “The Colonel,” the first of several nicknames through the years, including “Aloysius,” “Peaches,” and “Grizley.”</p>
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Growing up in Dallas, Al began to play football in junior high school and continued playing at Highland Park High School there. With a reputation for blocking kicks, Al excelled at several positions in the line, both on offense and defense, and received All-State honors in his senior year. He was as popular with his coaches and teachers as he was with the student body.</p>
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Al entered the Military Academy with the Class of 1955 and earned another nickname. During field training at Camp Buckner, Al and Charlie Berg were assigned to drive a 6x6 truck loaded with equipment. Al parked the truck at the top of a hill while they went into the woods on a mission. When they returned, the truck was not there. Its brakes had failed and the truck had rolled down the hill into the bushes. Charlie nicknamed Al “Barney Oppelfield” after race car driver Barney Oldfield, and the name “Barney” stuck.</p>
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Al’s Army football teammates remember him as the fastest lineman (guard) on the team. He was a great team player, who always challenged himself to the fullest, and he had a wonderful sense of humor. His teammates also remember how much they enjoyed being around Al during the difficult days of rebuilding after the summer of ’51 and how fortunate they were to work under legendary Coaches Red Blaik and Vince Lombardi. Al lettered every year. During First Class year, he was invited to join the Pittsburgh Steelers but instead opted for a career in the Air Force.</p>
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After graduation and commissioning, Al went to Moore Air Base in Mission, TX, and Greenville Air Force Base in Mississippi for flight training. After earning his wings, he transferred to Bryan Air Force Base in Texas to be a single-engine jet instructor pilot. On 6 Apr 1957, while he was at Bryan, Al married Sally June Snider in Dallas, TX.</p>
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Al then went to Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, TX, to continue as a pilot instructor and later entered graduate school at Texas Tech University. In Lubbock, Sandra Diane was born in 1959, Sharon Elizabeth was born in 1961, and Al graduated with a master of science in mechanical engineering. Al then joined the engineering mechanics faculty at the Air Force Academy, where he was a very popular instructor with fellow faculty members and cadets. In 1963, Al and Sally’s son Curt was born at the Academy.</p>
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In 1966, Al left the Air Force Academy, checked out in the F-102A, and was assigned to the 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Keflavic, Iceland. Their second son, Richard Craig, was born there in August 1967.</p>
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From Iceland, Al was checked out in the F-105 prior to his 1968 assignment to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base during the Viet Nam War. There, he flew 117 missions and earned eight Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross. From Korat, Al was assigned to the Thirteenth Air Force at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippine Islands and stationed there until 1972.</p>
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Al was then checked out in the B-52 and commanded the 524th Bomb Squadron at Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, MI. During off-duty hours, he earned an MBA from Central Michigan University, completing his degree in 1974. From 1974 to 1976, he was assigned to Strategic Air Command (SAC) Headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, NE, as assistant for senior officer management and chief of the Training and Education Division.</p>
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Al’s next assignment was as commander of maintenance for the 410th Bomb Wing at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in Michigan. Al then returned briefly to SAC Headquarters. In August 1979, he retired as a colonel and was awarded the Legion of Merit. His other citations included the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters.</p>
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Al and the family then moved to Iowa, where Al served as director of the Motor Vehicle Division from 1979 to 1981. Subsequently, he worked as an assistant professor of engineering mechanics at Iowa State University, Office Manager for Gannon Construction Company, and co-owner of a Goodyear Center.</p>
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In 1993, Al and Sally moved to Hot Springs Village, AR, where he joined the faculty of the University of Central Arkansas. He was also on the faculties of University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the Arkansas School of Math and Science. In addition, he was elected to the Fountain Lake School Board, where he instituted many needed reforms. These positions fulfilled his lifelong love of teaching and education. In October 2001, Al and Sally hosted an H-2 reunion in Hot Springs Village. Many of his company mates and their wives attended.</p>
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In February 2002, Al had triple bypass surgery to correct blockages and seemed to be recovering. While taking a walk on 28 Apr 2002, however, Al collapsed and died of an apparent heart attack. His funeral was held on 2 May at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Hot Springs Village. Several classmates attended services with the family there and at West Point on 7 June, when Al was inurned with honors at the columbarium.</p>
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Al is survived by his wife Sally, their four children and six grandchildren, and his brother Richard. He was loved and admired by his many friends, classmates, and associates who had the great blessing of his friendship and sense of humor.</p>
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<em>A classmate and Al’s family</em></p>
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