McFall ends 38-year federal career Published Sept. 24, 2010 By Susan Griggs 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Bob McFall, director of Keesler's arts and crafts complex, retires Wednesday, 38 years to the day that he came into the Air Force. He spent four years in the military at Reese Air Force Base, Texas, where he was an administrative specialist for the special services division. He began his civil service career in 1977 as a recreation apprentice in Reese's recreation center and moved into the director's position in two years. "While I was there, I was told that I was the first male child care director in Air Force history," he said. In 1982, he moved to Lackland AFB, Texas, to manage the Skylark Community Center. "We had the most customers and the largest staff of any community center in Air Force history," he stated. At Lackland, he launched a "Christmas elf program" to assemble packages for Airmen and civilians working on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day that he took to future assignments. In 1991, Mr. McFall moved to Keesler, where he revitalized Vandenberg Community Center and converted the old NCO Club into the base's second community center. In 2002, Mr. McFall took an assignment at Yokota Air Base, Japan, where he was director of the largest community center program in Pacific Air Forces and director of Armed Forces Entertainment for mainland Japan. As family member program flight chief, he was responsible for the care of more than 500 children. He returned to Keesler in 2004. Mr. McFall was recognized for AETC's best Services program and program manager four times during his career. "I'm looking forward enjoying the holidays -- I'm usually working then, taking care of our Airmen," he said. "My retirement home in Chickasaw, Ala., is on the water, so I'm going to buy a boat. I might go back to school and do some community volunteer work. I'm really looking forward to the second half of my life."