John Earl Meeks

John Earl Meeks was born on 24 June 1949 at Parklane Hospital, Salinas, California. His parents were Charles Oren Meeks and Wilma Lorraine (Clark) Meeks. He had one brother, Donald Meeks of Salinas.

His first home was on the property that used to be part of the Salinas Army Airfield. From there they moved to Margaret St. Following Margaret St., they moved to Sunrise St. and finally in 1954 they moved into their new home on Alma Ave.

At age 5 John attended Sanborn Elementary School. There he completed Kindergarten through 6th grade. He attended El Sausal Jr. High School from 7th -9th Grade. His sophomore year he attended Salinas High School and when Alisal High School was completed in 1965 he and his fellow classmates who lived in "The Alisal" were moved to Alisal High School from where he graduated in 1967, the First Graduating class.

After graduating, he briefly attended Hartnell Jr. College. He left college to enlist in the United States Air Force. After completing basic training, he was sent to Chanute AFB IL to train as a Weather Observer. From Chante he was assigned to Blytheville AFB AR. During his enlisted career, he was assigned to Hamilton AFB CA he also spent a year on the Arctic Circle at a remote radar site called Indian Mountain Air Force Station. From Alaska, he was stationed at Pease AFB NH. His next duty station was at Fleigerhorst Air Base in Hanau Germany, providing combat weather support to the US Army II Corps and the 3rd Armored Division. After completing the 3-year tour in Germany he was assigned to Duluth AFB MN. He closed out his enlisted career when selected to attend Officer Training School Medina Base San Antonio TX.

With his successful completion of OTS, he received a Commission in the Air Force Reserve as a Second Lieutenant on 29 November 1979 and stationed at Maxwell AFB AL. At Maxwell AFB he was a member of the faculty of the Squadron Office School. He was the first Second Lieutenant to ever be a member of the faculty. His duty was to write and maintain the SOS correspondence course; his other duty at that time was to prepare all written correspondence for the SOS Commander.

On November 29th, 1981, he received a Regular Commission as a First Lieutenant an achievement that is normally only achieved by those in the rank of Captain and above. In this capacity, he was selected as a Section Commander in which his duty was to teach the SOS curriculum to USAF Captains and International Officers ranging in rank from Captain to Lieutenant Colonel. After completion of his tour of duty on the faculty, he was assigned as an Assistant Professor of Aero Space Studies at Boston University. On November 29th, 1983, he was promoted to Captain.

His next and last assignment was to Altus AFB OK where he continued to move up the chain of command. First as the Officer in Charge of the Education and Training Branch of the 443rd Training Squadron. From that position he was selected as the Operations Officer of the 443rd Training and also Commander of the 443rd Student Squadron. His last assignment at Altus AFB was as the Executive Officer to the Commander of the 443rd Military Airlift Group. On November 29th, 1991, He was promoted to the Rank of Major and retired on May 1, 1993.

After retirement, he briefly lived on the Island of Hawaii subsequently moving back to first Seaside and then Salinas. Once he settled back into life in "The Alisal" felt that it was time to give back to the county and city where he was born and raised. He took on many volunteer tasks to include serving on the Monterey Civil Grand Jury five times. He also served as a Polling Place Inspector for Monterey County Office of Elections and as a commissioner on the City of Salinas Planning Commission representing District 2, serving in the capacity as the Chairman numerous times. John also was a member of the Steering Committee tasked with researching and writing the City of Salinas 20-year plan.

His academic accomplishments were graduating with honors from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of General Studies in 1977 and Master of Science degree in Counseling and Human Resource Development from Troy State University, Troy Alabama in 1982. His Military decorations included the Meritorious Service Medal, AF Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Achievement Medal, Outstanding Unit Citation with 7 oak leaf clusters, Combat Readiness Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, National Defense Medal with oak leaf cluster and five other service awards.

He was preceded in death by his Father Charles Oren Meeks and Mother Wilma Lorraine Meeks (Clark). He is survived by his Wife Victoria Alice Rojas-Bynum, brother Donald Meeks (Anna), his daughter Yolanda Mason (Kelly), his Grandson Aydenn and his Granddaughter Reese. Stepsons Jason William Bynum (Elizabeth), Octavian Stanley Bynum (Connie), Step grandsons Mason Octavian Bynum and Oliver Octavian Bynum

In Lieu of flowers family requests a memorial tree.