( 1931 - )
Maj. Gen. Richard Frymire Major General Frymire began his military career in 1952 when he entered the Naval Aviation Cadet Program. He was designated a Naval Aviator with commission as Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, in March 1954. He served with VMF-114 at MCAS Cherry Point, flying the F2H-4 Banshee and F9F-8 Cougar before being assigned as instructor pilot, Advanced Training Command, NAS Corpus Christi, Texas.
Upon the completion of his enlistment, 1LT (sic) Frymire was separated from active service in September 1956. He then joined the Kentucky Air National Guard with commission as First Lieutenant ANGUS. From December 1956 until January 1968, flying the F-86, RB-57 and RF-101, he served as pilot, instructor pilot, flight leader, and operations officer. He was mobilized for active duty with the 165th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in January 1968 at the time of the Pueblo Crisis.
After serving in Japan, Korea and Alaska, he separated from active service in 1969. He rejoined the Kentucky Air National Guard and was serving as Commander, 165th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron when appointed the Adjutant General of Kentucky in December 1971. General Frymire continued to serve as Chief of Staff, Kentucky Air National Guard, in his capacity as a traditional Guard member and he was promoted to Brigadier General in February 1975 in that capacity.
As Adjutant General, Frymire was promoted to Major General (tenure of office) June 29, 1976. After six years as Adjutant General of Kentucky, General Frymire resigned December 9, 1977 and reverted to his line rank of Brigadier General. He was assigned as Special Assistant, Commander, Tactical Air Command on December 10, 1977, receiving federal recognition as Major General on 24 May 1978.
General Frymire was appointed to a three-year term on the Reserve Forces Policy Board by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, effective January 1, 1977. He has served as Vice Chairman, Air Reserve Forces Policy Committee, Tactical Air Command.
In 1976, General Frymire served as one of the two Air National Guard General Officer representatives on the Air Reserve Forces General Officer Management Committee, chaired by Lieutenant General Hails. Gen. Frymire has served as Treasurer, later as Secretary, and as a member of the Executive Council of the Adjutants General Association of the United States, for a period of four years. In January 1977, as one of the ten National Guard Commanders, he represented the Army National Guard at the FORSCOM Commanders Conference at Fort McPherson, Georgia.
During his tenure as Adjutant General, the Kentucky Air National Guard enjoyed a C1 combat-ready status for 20 consecutive months, terminating in April 1976 at the time of conversion to the RF4-C. Within eight months thereafter, the Kentucky Air National Guard successfully completed its conversion and successfully passed its ORI. The unit was rated Outstanding in July 1977, by the 12th Air Force Stan/Eval Inspection Team. On August 15, 1977 the Kentucky Air National Guard became C1.
General Frymire, while Adjutant General, was also instrumental in creating the Kentucky Military History Museum housed in the Old State Arsenal in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Maj General Richard Frymire, Adjutant General, boarding an aircraft while in flying status as a member of the Kentucky Air National Guard. General Frymire is a command pilot. His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Combat Readiness Medal. He has received the National Guard Bureau coveted Eagle Award and the Air National Guard Meritorious Service Award.
In addition to his military and legal careers, General Frymire has served eight years in the Kentucky General Assembly: four years in the House of Representatives and four years in the Kentucky State Senate. In 1962, he was voted by the Capitol Press Corps as the "Most Outstanding Freshman Representative," and in 1964 he was selected as the "Representative Working Most in the Public Interest."
General Frymire is a native of Irvington, Kentucky. He is a partner with the law firm of Moore, Morrow & Frymire in Madisonville, Kentucky and has been active in many capacities in his community serving at various times as the Director of the Kentucky Bank and Trust Company, Madisonville; Director, Kentucky Easter Seal Society; Director, George Patton Museum Foundation (1973-1977); President, Hopkins County Bar Association; Trustee, First United Methodist Church, Madisonville, Kentucky. He is a member of the Hopkins County, Kentucky and American Bar Associations. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. General Frymire also served as Hopkins County Kentucky Judge/Executive from Jan 1998 through December 2002.
[Information submitted Chief Master Sergeant Jim Turpin 4 September 2003]