Steven Blair Fry

Born in Charleston, West Virginia on 13 October, 1955.

My family moved to North Carolina in 1958. I participated in various activities including marching band, wrestling team, and shot on the rifle team in High School. I signed up for JROTC during the Vietnam War, became Unit Commander and Drill Team Commander.

College: Appalachian State University, Boone, NC. Studied Urban Planning and Development, obtained a Bachelors degree in Industrial Electronics, minor in Physics and post-graduate studies in Physics. Activities: Marching Band, Pershing Rifles Drill Team, Wrestling Team, Varsity Rifle Team, Varsity Cheerleader

United States Marine Corps: Entered USMC through the Platoon Leaders Class program while in college, PEBD (Pay Entry Base Date) 27 February 1974

Completed Basic Training in Quantico, VA

Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in 1977 and completed The Officer Basic School, Quantico, VA

Naval Flight School in Pensacola, FL 1978

Designated Qualifications: Attack Jet pilot, Aircraft Carrier Qualified, Close Air Support pilot, Weapons and Tactics Instructor, Air Combat Tactics Instructor, Low Altitude Tactics Instructor, Nuclear Weapons Delivery Pilot, Nuclear Weapons Loading Officer, Marine Air Weapons and Tactics Instructor and Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluator, Aviation Safety Officer.

I served in various capacities including Director of Safety and Standardization, Operations Officer, Marine Amphibious Unit Air Officer, and Squadron Commanding Officer among others.

Bases, Activities and Vessels assigned:

Marine Corps Development and Education Command, Quantico, VA;

Headquarters Marine Corps, Arlington, VA;

Naval Flight School, Pensacola, FL;

Marine Attack Training Squadron 201, Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, AZ;

Marine Attack Squadron 223, Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, NC;

Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan;

Air Defense Base, Taegu, Korea;

Kadena Air Force Base, Kadena, Okinawa;

Weapons and Tactics Instructor and Combat Readiness Evaluator at Marine Air Weapons and Tactics Squadron in Yuma, AZ;

Air Officer, 28th Marine Amphibious Unit, LHA 4, USS Nassau, LPH 7, USS Guadalcanal;

Marine Attack Squadron 142, Cecil Field, Jacksonville, FL;

Marine Attack Squadron 331, Willow Grove, PA;

Marine Wing Support Squadron 443, Willow Grove, PA.

I decided to apply to Delta Air Lines in 1987 due to upcoming military budget cutbacks and force reductions. I was hired by Delta on 8 January 1988 and became a Captain a few years later. I flew the Boeing 727, 737, 757, 767, 767-400, 767-500, and Lockheed L-1011. I flew as Captain until I reached the mandatory FAA retirement age and retired after 33 years with Delta, flying internationally on the 767-400.

I continued to serve in the United States Marine Corps Active Reserve from 8 January 1988 to 1 January 1998 as an attack jet pilot, Squadron Operations Officer and Commanding Officer.

I retired from United States Marine Corps on 13 October 2015 after a total of 41 years, 7 months, 16 days of honorable service including approximately 24 years of Active service and 17 years of inactive Reserve service.

After retiring from the military I decided to find a spot and settle down. I purchased an existing farm near Williamson and moved to Pike County in April, 1998 and began raising horses, pigs, goats, sheep, and chickens. We added Bison (American Plains Buffalo) to the farm in 2001.

I married Gina Matsunaga from Fayetteville, GA in November 1999.

We had our first child, Marissa Leigh, on 11 May 2007, we had our second child, Alexandra Marie (“Sasha”), on 4 August 2009, and we had our third child, Steven Gregory (“Mouse”) on 10 June 2011.

Community activities, past and present, include: The Williamson Caboose Club, Williamson Walking Trail Committee, Pike County Lions Club, Kiwanis Club of Pike County (Past President), Pike County Historical Society, Pike County Fire Department (Station 6) as a Firefighter and Emergency Medical Responder, Public Safety Committee Chairman for Pike 2020 project, Chairman of Pike County Board of Appeals, Chairman of Pike County Board of Commissioners, appointed by Governor Brian Kemp as member of the Upper Flint Regional Water Commission, Board of Directors for Pike County Farm Bureau, Farm Bureau Equine Committee Chairman, Farm Bureau Policy Development Committee Chairman, Executive committee for Boy Scouts of America, currently High School and Middle School Coach for Wrestling, Baseball, Shotgun, Archery, and Golf. Scholastic Clay Target Program Coach, National Archery in the Schools Program Coach, National Advanced Shotgun Techniques Coach and Trainer, Pike County 4-H Shooting Sports Head Coach, Mayor of the City of Williamson.

Religion: Member, and Deacon, at the Church of Joy in Williamson.

Other interests and activities: National Rifle Association (Life Member), National Skeet Shooting and National Sporting Clays Associations (Life Member), American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), Palomino Horse Breeders Association (PHBA), National Bison Association, Master Diver Scuba certification, Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), United States Marine Corps Reserve Officer’s Association, Marine Corps League.

Additional Hobbies: Shooting, self defense tactics, martial arts, Tae Kwon Do, hiking, camping, sailing, horseback riding, golf, snow skiing, gardening, fishing, hunting, scuba diving, training and working with animals, getting out on the tractor and working around the farm.

I try to include my wonderful family in all these activities and spend as much time with them as possible. You may have also seen them working on community projects with me around town.

Again, my family and I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to continue my service to you and our city. We want Williamson to remain the place for our family to live and grow.

Sincerely,

Steve

Your Mayor, Steve Fry