Hello my name is Gene Rutland.   My wife, JoAnn, and I are moving to Killeen, TX: Since 2006 we were living in Laguna Vista, TX which is next to South Padre Island. However, we were both born and raised in Amarillo, TX (which is MUCH TOO CLOSE TO THE NORTH POLE)!

MY PERSONAL BIO:

AMARILLO HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF ‘55

50^TH ANNIVERSARY 24 Sep 2005

Jackie Eugene “Gene” Rutland

LTC, U.S. Army, Retired

Address:  2905 Natural Lane, Killeen, TX 76549

Phones:  Home:  (956) 433-7178  Cell: (956) 433-7178

Email:  generutland@gmail.com

I skydive, fish the Gulf of Mexico, water ski, scuba dive, lots of photography, and build web sites.

I am a native Texan, born and raised in Amarillo: 20 February, 1937.

After graduation from High School, I joined the US Army; actually I was already a member of the Texas National Guard while in high school as well as a member of the Junior ROTC program.  I then spent 10 years as an Enlisted Man, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant in Special Forces.  I qualified for Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA, graduated number one in my class of 134 and commissioned a Second Lieutenant in Infantry.  I served 2 years in Viet Nam, 1 year on the Korean DMZ (when our USS Pueblo was captured by the North Koreans).  Served many assignments world wide, graduated from the University of Tampa, FL with a BS in Business Administration (courtesy of the US Army).  Later I taught Military Science at Texas A&M where I concurrently worked on my MBA specializing in Computer Science. 

My decorations include the Silver Star, 2 Legions of Merit, 2 Bronze Stars (w/V Device), 2 Purple Hearts, 5 Army Commendation Medals, The National Defense Service Medal, Air Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab, Senior Parachutist Badge, several Vietnam decorations to include 4 Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry, The Vietnamese Fourragere of Gallantry, and the list goes on. 

 As an Army Infantry Officer, I was sent to the Armor Advance Course, and later to the US Marine Corps Command & General Staff College in Quantico, VA.  Afterwards, I served 3 years on board the President’s National Emergency Airborne Command Post (NEACP) operating out of Andrews AFB following the President around the world.  I was then assigned to Fort Hood, TX where I served in many positions and retired there as a Lieutenant Colonel.

After retirement, I became a Texas Real Estate Broker and a custom home builder in Belton, Bell County, TX where I built several million dollars worth of homes.  Then the Army came looking for me again and I entered Civil Service at III Corps, FT Hood where I served as Division Chief of the III Corps Intelligence Operations and Training Division for over 14 years retiring from that Job in April 2003 as a GG-14.

I then worked an additional 4 years performing contract work for the Pentagon and the Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM), Fort Belvoir, VA.  I traveled around the globe teaching Intelligence Training Managers how to use the special accounting software which I developed while working at Fort Hood. 

Finally, after serving nearly a total of 49 years for The United States of America, I figured it was time to go fishing!  My wife, JoAnn, and I were living on the water in Laguna Vista, TX where we did lots of boot-scoot-in, travel, cruise the world, fish, and enjoy full retirement.  Now we are in the process of moving to Killeen, TX.  I have three grown children: Kim, Guy, & Gina,  plus 5 grandchildren; scattered all around the globe. JoAnn has 3 grown boys: Randy, Steve, & Derek, and 6 grandchildren all living in Texas.  JoAnn also has one great-grandchild!  Guess that about covers it for now.  Lots of water under the bridge since Amarillo High School, 1955!