‘Tooey’ Lifetime Achievement Award unveiled at General Spaatz Museum in Boyertown

To inspire the next generation, The Spaatz Association celebrated the unveiling of the “Tooey” Lifetime Achievement Award during a dinner event held at the General Carl Spaatz National USAAF Museum in Boyertown. on Thursday, Dec. 12

Organized by The Spaatz Association — a non-profit organization composed of past and present Civil Air Patrol cadets who have earned the General Carl A. Spaatz Award — the Dec 12 event celebrated the first stop on a national roadshow publicly displaying for the first time The Spaatz Association Lifetime Achievement Award.

The trophy known as “The Tooey” is a large bust of World War II legend and Boyertown native General Carl A. Spaatz.

The General Carl A. Spaatz Award, named in honor of General Carl “Tooey” Spaatz, is Civil Air Patrol’s highest cadet honor for demonstrating excellence in leadership, character, fitness, and aerospace education.

In 1929, Spaatz, together with another pilot, set an important flight endurance record of 150 hours and 40 minutes in the early days of aviation. During World War II, he commanded the Allied air campaign against the Nazis. In the Pacific Theater, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki took place under his command. After retiring from the Air Force, General Spaatz served as the first chairman of the Civil Air Patrol National Board, according to The Spaatz Association website.

Cadets qualify for the Spaatz Award after an average of five years to progress through 16 achievements in the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program, developing the foundation necessary for pursuing a career in aviation, space, or technology.

The final step is a four-part exam consisting of a challenging physical fitness test, an essay exam testing moral reasoning, a comprehensive written exam on leadership, and a comprehensive written exam on aerospace education. Upon passing the Spaatz Award exams, the cadet is promoted to the grade of cadet colonel, according to The Spaatz Association website.

On average, only five cadets in 1,000 earn the Spaatz Award. Since the award’s inception in 1964, the Civil Air Patrol has presented the Spaatz Award to 2,280 cadets nationwide as of February 2022, according to the website.

For this first stop on the “Tooey” Lifetime Achievement Award roadshow visiting the award namesake’s hometown, dinner was provided to about 20 people including members of The Spaatz Association, Civil Air Patrol, Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, and the local community. The event featured keynote speakers celebrating aviation, leadership and history.

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Keith Seiwell — founder and CEO of the General Carl Spaatz National USAAF Museum — spoke about the concept and development of the museum located in General Spaatz’s hometown of Boyertown.

Museum director Chris Boswell, acting as General Spaatz, spoke about the life and career of the famed general and hometown hero while leading attendees on a tour of the museum’s exhibits.

“Attendees loved the opportunity to see the engaging exhibits that bring General Carl “Tooey” Spaatz’s history to life and to hear the various speakers from the museum and the Air Force Auxiliary,” said U.S. Air Force Reserve Major Julian “Cosmo” Gluck, a member of The Spaatz Association who flew in from Boston to co-host the event with Seiwell.

The concluding speech was from Civil Air Patrol Col. Joe Abegg who traveled from New Jersey to inspire in youth a love for aviation from his many years as a pilot in the Civil Air Patrol, Air Force, and airlines as a United captain. He spoke about careers in aviation from aerospace engineer to Air Force command pilot to United Airlines captain.

Gluck said the speakers would recommend that those interested in joining or supporting the Civil Air Patrol, visit GoCivilAirPatrol.com and check out the local squadron in Boyertown and others in the surrounding area. Also, Gluck said the Spaatz Museum is most certainly worth a visit, especially for those across the country who were Civil Air Patrol cadets and those who earned his namesake Spaatz Award.

“The intent of the event was to both promote a sense of gravitas with the unveiling of The Spaatz Association’s “Tooey” Lifetime Achievement Award by bringing it to various places important in the life of General Spaatz, including his hometown of Boyertown, and to provide opportunities for leaders in military aviation to speak with youth, Civil Air Patrol cadets and adult volunteers, and locals about the legacy that this award embodies and that of its namesake while highlighting opportunities to contribute to your community and nation through the Civil Air Patrol,” said Gluck.

Gluck was the 2018 Air Force Times Airman of the Year as an active duty bomber pilot and is now an MBA candidate at Harvard University. In his speech, he shared about the impact the Civil Air Patrol has had on his life and career (from community service to combat zones), as well as that of others within the organization.

“There is a reason why I flew down to Boyertown for this and continue to be a part of the Civil Air Patrol. As an American, I have seen the positive difference that this non-profit corporation makes in local communities across the country,” Gluck said to those in attendance. “As an Air Force officer, I have observed the capabilities this civilian auxiliary brings to the fight as part of the total force.”

As a member of the Civil Air Patrol for nearly 20 years, Gluck said he has appreciated the dogged dedication and passion of the cadets and senior members in this volunteer organization.

“Where we have triumphed, we can’t rest on our laurels. Instead, we must continue to endeavor with our mightiest efforts to be better versions of ourselves,” he said.

Concluding, Gluck said: “We’re not just volunteers; we’re professionals. We made a pledge to serve faithfully to this program and to be of service to our community, state, and nation. You will be called upon when your community or country needs you. It’s what our country deserves and our future requires. It starts with each of us each day.”

“Semper vigilans. Always vigilant.”