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CECIL W. MAJOR GENERAL (RET) Died on August 1, 2011. He was a decorated Air Force Experimental Test Pilot and Fighter Pilot for 31 years. The Berlin Wall went up the year he finished his pilot training and came down the year he retired from the Air Force. He was one of seven men to test the "Lifting Body" airplane, the predecessor to the Shuttle. Powell had two tours flying over North Viet Nam. Among his many decorations, he was awarded the "Octave Chanute Award" by the American Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics for his accomplishments as a test pilot. Cecil retired in Albuquerque after being stationed at Kirtland AFB and falling in love with the Southwest. He worked as a consultant to the National Labs for 15 years before retiring completely. Cecil leaves behind a large and loving family of seven children; 21 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; a sister, Patricia in Houston, TX; his wife of 38 years, Sally in Rio Rancho, NM. A voracious reader, Cecil requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Rio Rancho Library, specifically for children's books.
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