Robert Harold Baskett – Colonel, United States Air Force

From a contemporary press report

Colonel Robert Harold Baskett, USAF, Retired, age 56 passed away Thursday, January 31, 2002, at home of renal cell carcinoma. A 1968 Mechanical Engineering and distinguished ROTC graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute, he earned a Master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida in 1969 before entering active duty in the U.S. Air Force in January 1970.

He was a command pilot with over 3,600 hours. His flying assignments included serving as an instructor in the T-38 and C- 103, supporting the cadet parachuting program at the Air force Academy, flying extensively in the Pacific and in combat support in Southeast Asia while assigned at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, serving as operations officer in two squadrons and commanding the 62nd Tactical Airlift Squadron.

Other assignments included teaching as an Assistant Professor of Aero Engineering at the U.S. Air Force Academy and personnel related assignments at Scott Air force Base, Illinois, the Pentagon, and finally Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

Retiring after 30 years of military service, Bob earned his teaching certificate in secondary education for math. He began teaching math at Canyon High School during the school year of 2000-2001 and continued teaching until he became ill. As
a dedicated family man, Bob actively participated in his son’s scouting programs as a committee member, Assistant Scoutmaster and Scoutmaster, in both children’s swim team programs as a swimming officials in the capacity of referee, starter and stroke and turn judge, and in his daughter’s soccer programs as manager and coach. He also enjoyed golf and woodworking in his spare time. Bob was loved and will be greatly missed by his family, friends and neighbors, faculty members and students. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 31 years, Jacqueline Ann Prestjohn Baskett and daughter, Kristen Baskett of New Braunfels, Texas and son Matthew and wife Dawn Baskett of Irving, Texas.

Surviving Bob also are his mother, Meryl Bassett Baskett and sisters, Suzanne B. Anderton and Laurie Lynn Baskett of Richmond, Virginia. His  father, Robert E. (Pete) Baskett, preceeded Bob in death. Visitation will be at Zoeller Funeral Home in New Braunfels at 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 3 and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Monday February 4.  Services will be Monday February 4 at the First United Methodist church in New Braunfels at 2 p.m. Colonel Baskett will be buried with full military honors at 3 p.m. on Feb. 19 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Cancer Therapy and Research Center, P.O. Box 1657, San Antonio, TX 78296 and please specify “for kidney cancer research,” or to VNA and Hospice of South Texas, 8721 Botts Street, San Antonio, TX. 78217.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard