Colonel (Retired) Richard Toliver, Men's Conference Speaker October 12~14, 2012

An Uncaged Eagle ''is a sixty-five year odyssey of the story of my life.... It begins with my family’s escape from the Ku Klux Klan in the backwoods of northwest Louisiana in 1942.  It continues with my boyhood days on dirt streets and outside privies in Shreveport to eventually dine with the future king of Saudi Arabia. It chronicles my Air Force career that included 446 combat missions in Southeast Asia, a lightening strike at 20,000 feet, a rocket-seat ejection over Germany, and a special assignment that had international ramifications. It is the story of the youngster who earned three dollars a week on his first job and ended up working for billionaire Ross Perot.''

Colonel Richard Toliver, a protégé of the Tuskegee Airmen, was trained and mentored by them and is a 26-year veteran of the United States Air Force. He is a “Top Gun” fighter pilot who flew 446 combat missions in Southeast Asia. Later he directed the testing and evaluation of several major weapon systems for the Department of Defense and allied military programs. He also held key roles in advanced research, development, and testing of tactical fighter aircraft. His military education includes Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, National Security Management School, and the Tactical Air Command Fighter Weapons Instructor School. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and Air Medal with 27 Oak Leaf Clusters.

Since retiring from the Air Force,Colonel Toliver pursued several business, economic development, and political ventures in New Mexico, Alabama, Georgia, and Texas.  His public service includes several years in New Mexico on the Public Safety Advisory Commission; Board of Regents, University of New Mexico; and Board of Directors of the Kirtland Partnership Committee.   Since moving to Arizona in 2003, he has served on the Board of Director's for the West Valley Hospital in Goodyear and held a key role in securing the Congressional Medal for the Tuskegee Airmen.  His extensive professional writing experience in the military and private sector has resulted in many articles for newspapers, magazines, and periodicals.  Colonel Toliver continues to be in demand as a motivational speaker nationwide and overseas, including recent trips to Germany, Iraq, Kuwait, Spain, Hawaii, and Japan.

Peggy Toliver, Dick’s wife of forty-seven years, is a miraculous lady who battled cancer and has survived for over twenty years. She was stricken August 10, 1985, the night of their 23rd wedding anniversary while stationed with her husband in Sumter, SC. Within forty-eight hours, she was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer; air evacuated to Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio, TX; and underwent emergency surgery. Six weeks later, she had surgery to reverse a colostomy and removal of additional cancerous intestines. The cancer persisted and spread to Peggy’s liver. In September 1986, she had surgery to remove 60% of it. Six months later she was again air evacuated to Wilford Hall and treated for severe internal hemorrhaging. Monthly exams confirmed wide-spread cancer but no further metastasis; consequently, the normal radiation and chemotherapy protocol was deferred. In early 1987, Peggy’s monthly tests showed evidence of a decline in the presence of cancer. This unexpected and inexplicable trend continued for several months, and by the end of 1987, the amazed medical staff at Wilford Hall declared Peggy cancer free!

The Tolivers retired from the Air Force in 1989, and Peggy continued a full life, cancer free. Today, she is deeply involved with many family activities, church and community, and is chief editor of her husband’s speeches, publications, and his book. She has traveled extensively and touched lives throughout the United States and overseas, including England, Scotland, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Israel. Her close friends hail from these places and from Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia. Dick proudly calls Peggy the “wind beneath his wings!”

More about Colonel Toliver and An Uncaged Eagle.