Colonel Donald D. Beckham, USAF, Ret.

Colonel Donald D. Beckham, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), passed away June 5, 2008 after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. He was born March 19, 1935 in Columbia, SC. Following graduation from Dreher High School in 1953, he attended the University of South Carolina. He graduated in 1957 with a BA degree and an Air Force ROTC commission in the U.S. Air Force. He was a distinguished military graduate. Colonel Beckham received a Juris Doctor degree in 1967 from the National Law Center of George Washington University. He had early assignments to Nouasseur AB, Morocco; Donaldson AFB, SC; King Salmon, Alaska, and the Pentagon. His first assignment as a Judge Advocate was to the legal office at Lowry AFB in March, 1968. Subsequent positions he held in JAG included Office of the Judge Advocate General, Washington, D.C.; Royal Air Force Mildenhall as Staff Judge Advocate; Royal Air Force Lakenheath as Staff Judge Advocate of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing; Staff Judge Advocate at the Air Force Accounting and Finance Center in Denver, where he was chosen Denver Federal Attorney of the Year in 1982, and finally as Staff Judge Advocate of Headquarters Air Training Command at Randolph AFB, Texas. He retired from the Air Force in 1985. Colonel Beckham's military decorations and awards include the Air Force Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal. After his retirement from the Air Force, Col. Beckham joined the John P. Nanney Law firm. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Fran; children JP (Dana) Beckham of Ashburn, VA and Robin (Peter) Braidman of Aurora; grandchildren Christine and Collin Beckham, and Sarah Nobe; and sister Anne Beckham of Columbia, SC. Preceded in death by grandson Zachary Nobe in 2004. He will be remembered and cherished for his wit, sense of humor, passion for music and his love of the Air Force and the Law. Graveside services will be held on Wednesday June 11 at 2:30 PM, at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, Staging Area ""B"". Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 855 Sherman Street, Suite 500, Denver, 80203.