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Barksdale honors Air Force legend

By Carla Pampe, 8th Air Force Public Affairs / Published March 05, 2009

Maj. Gen. (ret) William Eubank Jr. rests at home in Shreveport. A photo of then active-duty General Eubank sits on his wall as a reminder of his service in the military. General Eubank was honored at a ceremony March 4 naming the new Eubank Global Operations Conference Center at the Barksdale Club in his honor. (Photo by Senior Airman Alyssa C. Miles
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Maj. Gen. (ret) William Eubank Jr. rests at home in Shreveport. A photo of then active-duty General Eubank sits on his wall as a reminder of his service in the military. General Eubank was honored at a ceremony March 4 naming the new Eubank Global Operations Conference Center at the Barksdale Club in his honor. (Photo by Senior Airman Alyssa C. Miles

Then-Brig. Gen. Eubank exits a B-52 at Castle AFB, Calif., June 27, 1955, after his first flight in the aircraft, while other Airmen look on. Eubank accepted the first B-52 into the Air Force inventory. A conference center at Barksdale Air Force Base was named in his honor March 4. (U.S. Air Force Photo)
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Then-Brig. Gen. Eubank exits a B-52 at Castle AFB, Calif., June 27, 1955, after his first flight in the aircraft, while other Airmen look on. Eubank accepted the first B-52 into the Air Force inventory. A conference center at Barksdale Air Force Base was named in his honor March 4. (U.S. Air Force Photo)

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Barksdale Air Force Base, La. -- Barksdale Air Force Base dedicated a new state-of-the-art conference center in the Barksdale Club in honor of retired Maj. Gen. William Eubank Jr., during a ceremony here March 4.

General Eubank is often called "Mr. B-52" because he accepted the first B-52 into the Air Force inventory in 1955. The general began his military career in February 1936 when he entered the Army Air Corps as a flying cadet at Randolph and Kelly fields, San Antonio, Texas.

He graduated from advanced flying and was assigned to Barksdale Field, where he served with the 3rd Attack Group and the 27th Bomb Group. His assignments over the years included various commands, culminating as deputy commander of the 2nd Air Force, then headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base. A rated command pilot, Eubank has logged more than 4,500 flying hours, including 60 in combat. He retired from active duty on Sept. 1, 1965.

"We are so proud of him," said General Eubank's wife, Mimi. "No one deserves this honor more." 

Both General Eubank and his wife, who is a native of Shreveport, La., as well a number of their family members attended the ceremony. After a private tour of the conference center for the family, a dedication ceremony was held during which a plaque and portrait of General Eubank were unveiled by Lt. Gen. Robert J. Elder, 8th Air Force commander, and Col. Robert Wheeler, 2nd Bomb Wing Commander.

During his remarks, Lt. Gen. Elder praised General Eubank's service and accomplishments, which included the first fielding of the B-52 and the first fielding of the KC-135, and numerous flight records which General Elder said helped reinforce the Strategic Air Command's image as America's premier global force.

"Our efforts today to revitalize the Air Force's long-standing missions of deterrence and homeland defense reflect the legacy which he established for us during his distinguished career," General Elder said.

The 7,800-square-foot conference center named in General Eubank's honor is the largest on Barksdale Air Force Base, with theater seating for more than 100. It includes the capability for video teleconferencing, wireless access, a distinguished visitor lounge with a fully-functional conference room, and full accessibility for the mobility and hearing impaired.

General Elder said naming such a facility in honor of General Eubank was fitting given the spirit of innovation he showed during his nearly 30-years of service.

"As Barksdale Air Force Base dedicates the Eubank Conference Center in your honor, we recognize you as one of the giants whose shoulders we stand on today," he told General Eubank in a special message read during the ceremony. "The Eubank Conference center will serve as a physical reminder to our air, space and cyber warriors of the future that this great Air Force is built on the heritage of innovation, integrity, service and excellence you epitomized throughout your career."