Air Force Academy Legend Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Bob Beckel Passes Away
12/4/2025 11:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Legendary former Air Force men's basketball player Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Bob Beckel passed away recently. His Celebration of Life will be held, Dec. 4, at Hotel Polaris next to the Academy grounds.
A distinguished military leader, educator, and devoted family man, Gen. Beckel's life was marked by extraordinary service, unwavering dedication, and a deep commitment to excellence.
Beckel was part of the inaugural class for induction into the Air Force Academy Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. A 1959 USAFA graduate, Beckel was a Helms Basketball All-American in 1959 and holds the school record for career scoring average at 22.8 points per game.
He is one of only two men's basketball players to serve as the Cadet Wing Commander. He owns AFA's top four single-game scoring performances (58, 47, 46 and 40). He was the team MVP in 1959 and played in the East-West Shrine All-Star Game that same season.
Beckel returned to the Academy as a brigadier general in 1981 as the Commandant of Cadets. Originally from Walla Walla, Wash., he flew 313 combat missions in the F-100 in Vietman and was responsible for the worldwide operation of the Strategic Air command air refueling tanker force. A former Thunderbird pilot, Beckel retired from the Air Force in 1992 as a lieutenant general.
A distinguished military leader, educator, and devoted family man, Gen. Beckel's life was marked by extraordinary service, unwavering dedication, and a deep commitment to excellence.
Beckel was part of the inaugural class for induction into the Air Force Academy Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. A 1959 USAFA graduate, Beckel was a Helms Basketball All-American in 1959 and holds the school record for career scoring average at 22.8 points per game.
He is one of only two men's basketball players to serve as the Cadet Wing Commander. He owns AFA's top four single-game scoring performances (58, 47, 46 and 40). He was the team MVP in 1959 and played in the East-West Shrine All-Star Game that same season.
Beckel returned to the Academy as a brigadier general in 1981 as the Commandant of Cadets. Originally from Walla Walla, Wash., he flew 313 combat missions in the F-100 in Vietman and was responsible for the worldwide operation of the Strategic Air command air refueling tanker force. A former Thunderbird pilot, Beckel retired from the Air Force in 1992 as a lieutenant general.
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