Michael G. Major

Michael Major Obituary

Name: Celebration of Life for Michael G. Major
Start: 2017-10-08T21:00:00.000Z
Location: US Air Force Academy

Major
Michael G. Major
April 16th, 1940 - September 3rd, 2017
Michael G. Major, of Reno, NV passed away peacefully on September 3rd, after a year-long fight with cancer. Mike was born in Ellensburg, WA on April 16, 1940 to the late Mickey and Ken Major. He attended Ellensburg HS and was a standout student/athlete, remaining very close with his classmates in the EHS Class of 1958. He was an honor graduate from the US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO in June 1962, and commissioned in the Regular AF and competitively selected to become a fighter pilot. In his 23+ years of service, he flew 3600 hours in the F-100, F-104, F-4, and F-16. He served 2 combat tours in Vietnam and amassed 200+ combat missions earning a Distinguished Flying Cross for Valor, and 14 Air Medals. Additionally, he served 2 tours in South Korea and Europe respectively among numerous other stateside billets. He commanded at the squadron and wing levels, and was loved and respected by all he served with. He retired in 1985 as a full Colonel and hired as a Program Manager at Northrop-Grumman Aerospace Company in Los Angeles, CA, where he led numerous large scale international military aircraft refurbishment and development programs. Upon his second retirement in 2000, he moved to Reno, NV where he enjoyed golf, snow skiing, fishing and a large group of friends. As a volunteer with the Reno Air Races for 15 years, he rose through the ranks becoming the Air Race President and also CEO for two years until he retired in 2015.
Mike's joyous spirit and love of life will be remembered forever by his beloved wife Patti of Reno, NV; daughter Dana Hyland and her husband Kevin of Fort Collins, CO; son Mike Major and his wife Renee of Louisville, KY; step-daughter Kim Sweazy of Tampa, FL; step-son Scott Riedenauer of Los Angeles, CA; 9 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. Additionally, he leaves behind countless friends from his youth in Ellensburg, USAFA classmates, all his assignments and his beloved Reno. His infectious smile, his quick wit and the twinkle in his eye will be missed by all he knew. Mike never met a stranger and lived his life with a heart of service, sacrifice and dedication to all he knew.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the US Air Force Academy on October 8th at 2pm. He will be laid to rest in the US Air Force Academy Cemetery, Colorado Springs, CO on Tuesday, October 10th at 10am. All friends of Mike and Patti are welcome, to celebrate Mike's life like he would want-lots of laughs, lots of love and living life to the fullest!

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Gazette on Oct. 1, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Michael Major

6 Entries

Joe Love, Ltc, USAF, Ret.

January 30, 2025

I was thinking of Mike, looked him up and was greatly saddened to see he passed away in 2017. I had no idea he was gone. I had two assignments in the F-4 with him, Kunsan AB Korea and Homestead AFB Florida, and he was my best man when I married Laura, my wife of now almost forty-five years. I have so many memories of Mike, most of them really, really good ones, some really really funny ones, and a few sad ones. I remember his sparkling eyes and his ready smile. He could light up a room just by walking in. Rest in peace, Mike. I wish we had kept up with each other over the years. Cheers!

Tebbin Salvesen

September 26, 2017

I was privileged to have worked with Mike for many years at the Reno Air Races. He was a friend to all and had an infectious smile for everyone. He will be missed and i will always remember our time spent together talking about the races and aviation in general!

Douglas Driver

September 25, 2017

When I was a child, my parent's were close friends of Mike's parents. Whenever I went to their house I was enthralled by Mickey's latest reports of Mike's Air Force assignments and accomplishments; the fact their house was the only in town that had a private elevator in it notwithstanding! Considering another young man of about Mike's age from the same neighborhood had defected to the Soviet Union with U.S. secrets and another had been kicked out of the Air Force Academy caught up in a cheating scandal, I was especially fascinated by Mike. While he was already gone flying jets by the time I was old enough to know him, he was always a true hero of mine. I'm very happy to know that he had such a life well lived, albeit cut way too short! Sincere condolences to his family.

Scott Driver

September 24, 2017

Gone too soon !!

Kathy Drissel

September 21, 2017

Mike was kind to ALL. He was highly intelligent and greatly respected ---- and interested in everyone. He made people feel "special" .... because he truly believed they were! My condolences to Patti and the entire family.

September 21, 2017

I was stationed at Hahn Air Base in Germany from 1963-1965.
I was a crew chief on F-100's and I was assigned Lt. Mike Major as my pilot.
If this is the same person, I remember him fondly as a great person and great pilot.
You have my condolences.
Marty Carrasco
Sparks, Nevada

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