Jerry Graf

Name – Jerry Graf
Address – 204 Center Street, McPherson Kansas
Phone – 828-329-3694 cell/home
Email address – jerry.graf4@gmail.com
Children/Grandchildren
Matt, wife Amy
Zeke
Zach
Zaden
Zeph
Zylen
Christy, husband Dustin
Alli
Cam
Jocelyn (Jo)


“Working Years, including volunteer work: I was once told that I should write a book on all that I have experienced but I will spare you most of the details. I was in the Food Service business for 40 years. Most of the time was with Pizza Hut Inc and Domino’s Pizza Inc. Then as an act of independence, I became an entrepreneur - sounds crazy, doesn’t it. Of the many companies that I started, I am most proud of Koch-NCM Foods. You can venture out to the west side of town next to the airport and see the results of that effort. There are a lot of stories that go with all of that, I could bore you to tears!! I did end up in Wisconsin in 2005 with a partner buying what else but a pizza company. Well I did everything but the books and he “cooked” them so we parted company. I tried to get back into the business but they don’t like “grey hairs”. So I took early retirement at 62. I was not sure what I was going to do but then an opportunity came about involving my first love – aviation. Several things have come about pursuing that love of mine. I was VP of our local airport in Iola, WI, where we have a fly-in lunch each and every Friday of every week of the year – you all are invited!! I formed a couple of non-profit companies centered on the youth of the day and aviation. They are Aviators By Design (ABD) and Youth Aviation Programs Association (YAPA). With ABD, I had kids from 6 rural high schools building an airplane, the idea is that they build it, learn to fly it and then have a club plane to use. YAPA is national in scope, it is meant to network existing youth aviation programs around the country and it is also intended to act as a resource for those who want to start an aviation program. It seems that I worked harder then than when I had a real job and these 2 don’t pay but the rewards are priceless!! I now am playing the role of retired. I
Volunteer work that is centered on aviation and youth. I volunteer at our local airport, at the EAA annual convention which is the largest airshow in the world. That volunteer work allowed me to be the liaison between Ford and EAA. What a pleasure that has been. I have ridden in a B-17 with Edsel Ford and his son, plus drive him in a police cruiser with both the lights and sirens going off!! What a blast!! I also am one of the youth leaders at our church. I call my kids the replacement generation. I have been told that you are the sum of your decisions and this is so true. I have made some good ones and also some bad ones along the way. I just hope that I can pass some of the hard earned wisdom that I have learned on to these kids of today.
I also have had the extreme privilege to be a guardian on 5 Old Glory Honor Flights where we take our WWII, Korean and Viet Nam Vets back to Washington DC to see their memorials and get a chance to Thank Them for Their Sacrifice and Their Service so that we can enjoy the freedom that we have today. I cannot tell you how rewarding this is to hear the stories of what they did in serving their country – AMAZING AND PRICELESS!!

Hobbies – aviation, aviation, aviation and all related topics.
Pastimes - Travel – I have been fortunate in my career to have had the opportunity to travel and work internationally. I have made a lot of friends along the way in many parts of the world and it makes you understand how truly small this world really is. I also just love to travel the US especially our West in the Mountains. We got the chance to live in Bozeman MT and what an incredible experience that was!!
Causes – I really am wanting to get kids engaged in aviation where they can learn STEM skills, learn to work with their hands, enjoy a freedom of what flight can bring to them along with a ton of other skills.
Leisure activities – music, enjoying the kids and my grandkids
Bucket list – Pearl Harbor, Normandy Beach
School Memories – singing in Mrs. Koehler’s classes, singing in Mixed Ensemble and almost getting my letter in golf!!

I made the decision to move back to McPherson in Oct 2017 for the 4th time - it's home!

Too many to list!!