Bio: Zager, Bernard (U. S. Air Force Retired - 2011)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Zager

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) September 28, 2011, Front page

Zager, Bernard (U. S. Air Force Retired - 2011)

Neillsville Citizen retired after 43 years with the United States Air Force - By Tony Opelt

Bernard Zager, the son of Evelyn and the late Peter Zager of Neillsville, retired from the federal government after 43 years of dedicated service.

After graduating from Neillsville High School in 1964 and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1968, he enlisted in the United States Air Force.  He was commissioned as an officer in 1978 and retired from the Air Force in 1989 after 21 years with the rank of captain. Shortly after that, he returned to work for the Air Force as a civilian employee at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, NV. Zager recently retired as a federal civilian employee after serving another 22 years.  He was the commander of the 547^th Intelligence Squadron Resource Management Flight.  During his career, he received coins from three secretaries of the Air Force, three Air Force chiefs of staff and the chief master sergeant of the Air Force and numerous military commanders and foreign dignitaries.

Zager’s 43-year career has taken him to many places worldwide and afforded him the opportunity to meet many dignitaries and international government leaders.

At his formal retirement ceremony, he was informed a large auditorium in one of the premiere facilities at Nellis Air Force Base was named the "Zager Auditorium" in his honor.  He also received American flags that had flown in Iraq and in one of the USAF Thunderbirds.

He and his wife Thyra have lived in Las Vegas since 1985.  They have three children - Andrew of Las Vegas, NV; Matthew of Charleston, SC; and Felice of Reno, NV.  They also have four-year-old twin grandsons.