William Talley
2017 Distinguished Alumni
B.S. Biological Sciences '55
Colonel William H. Talley was commissioned through the Air Force ROTC program to active duty at Oklahoma A&M College in 1955. Lieutenant Talley completed undergraduate pilot training and was awarded his pilot wings at Webb Air Force Base in Texas. He completed advanced fighter training and reconnaissance school and was assigned to the 29th, 20th and 17th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. Talley was deployed to Southeast Asia as a F-105F pilot with the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron. During his deployment, Colonel Talley spent 322 days in captivity and was released during Operation Homecoming in March of 1973.
Talley received his MBA from the University of Oklahoma and went on to Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. Talley continued his service in the Air Force as Chief of the Weapons systems and Major Equipment Division on the directorate of contracting manufacturing with the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker Air Force Base. He retired from the Air Force in 1981. Talley maintained heroism and selfless devotion in his service to our country.