Entrepenuer and Oklahoma Air Guard F-16 pilot
Maj. Dan Rooney. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World
Just in time for Memorial Day, here's action you can admire from you state Capitol.
On Wednesday, Gov. Brad Henry signed legislation that will add a donation opportunity for the Folds of Honor Foundation on state tax forms.
So anyone getting a tax refund can designate some of it to go to the local foundation, which provides scholarships to children and spouses of members of the military who are killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Maj. Dan Rooney, the F-16 pilot who founded the foundation, spoke Thursday at the Tulsa Press Club's Page One Luncheon.
It was inspirational to see a young man who was so mission-driven and so patriotic.
In addition to flying F-16s, Rooney is a golf pro, owns one golf course, and is building another one.
It's like he never forgot childhood ambitions – I want to flying big planes and play golf.
He speaks in simple, direct sentences that are full or heart and truth.
On the road of jet fighter: "That noise is the sound of freedom."
On the dedication of the military: "This will never not be a free country, at least not on our watch."
On his foundation: "When you reach out to help someone else in need, the person you help is yourself."
With the help of the PGA and the U.S. Golf Association he has already raised millions for his foundation (and paid out about 400 scholarships), and there's little doubt he's on his way to raising more.
Most of his money is raised in golf tournaments, and I don't play, but he'll get a piece of my next tax refund.
