“Service Before Self”
In Recognition of Outstanding Service
This award is presented annually to the individual who best exemplifies service before self.
Roy Bateman was born on a small farm near Loogootee, Indiana, on 23 January 1922. When Pearl Harbor was attacked on 7 December 1941, he enlisted in the Army. He served in General Patton’s Army in the European theater and rose to the rank of sergeant. After the war he relocated to Glendale, Arizona where he was employed by the U.S. Air Force as fuel specialists. Thus, began his incredible career in Fuel Handling.
Roy was a fuel handler for 47 years at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. During his tenure in Fuels, he dispensed over 125 million gallons of aviation fuel to over 104,000 aircraft. His efforts facilitated the successful training of both American and foreign pilots. He directly contributed to successes in Vietnam, Operation Desert Shield/Storm, Bosnia, and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
His personal efforts helped drive the success at Luke Air Force Base, AZ for almost 50 years. His work ethic was instrumental in Luke’s Fuels Management team garnering such awards as the American Petroleum Institute (API) award for Best Fuels Operation in the Air Force in 1984 and 1990. He was personally recognized as the Air Force Wage Grade Fuels Civilian leader of the Year in 1995 and again in 2002 in a ceremony at the Pentagon.
Mr. Roy Bateman has left an indelible mark in the hearts of thousands. He has become a true icon at Luke AFB and indeed throughout the fuels community. Forty-seven years after first setting foot on the ramp, he refueled his last F16-D Fighting Falcon. The NPMA dedicates the Professional Fuel Handler award in his name to honor his tremendous contributions. Mr. Bateman passed away peacefully during the morning of October 9, 2003.
Award Recipients
| Will LaFoy | Chad Smith |
| William “Bill” Langworthy | Ron Crowl, Jr. |
| Seth Dempcy | Ronald Aragon |
| Brandon Sullivan |
