Acworth Native Retires After 64 Years of Service
If Acworth native Dallas Godfrey’s career could be described in just a few words, they would most likely be service and commitment.
Godfrey, 94th Logistics Readiness Squadron transportation accountable officer and U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. (Ret.), retired from Dobbins Air Reserve Base (ARB) on Dec. 31 with 34 years of military service and 30 years of federal service.
In his spare time, he is active in the Acworth community. In addition to organizing the annual Halloween Block Party/Cruise-in Car Show on Historic Main Street in downtown, Godfrey is the president of Acworth Allatoona Charities, Inc., which awards college scholarships to high school seniors in South Bartow, East Paulding, North Cobb and West Cherokee counties.
As a teenager, Godfrey worked at Sinclair Car Wash and bagged groceries at Big Apple Grocery Store. Although his reasons for working were to finance cars, movies and dates, the workplace instilled a work ethic that prepared him for adulthood and military leadership.
He spent the last 37 years serving in many capacities at Dobbins ARB, from aircraft maintenance to logistics, and achieving the highest Air Force enlisted rank.
“Dallas Godfrey has served this base, service and nation for many years,” said Major Dana Callahan, 94th LRS director of operations, during a recent ceremony. “It’s time we thank him and honor his many achievements.”
Godfrey entered U.S. Army Basic Training in April 1969 at Fort Benning. After attending infantry school in Fort Pope, Louisiana, and signal school in Fort Gordon, he completed a tour in Vietnam and returned to Fort Gordon in 1971.
The next year, he met and married his wife, Ernestine. After leaving the Army in 1975, he went to work for General Motors in Doraville for 14 years.
Missing the camaraderie of the military, Godfrey joined the Air Force Reserve in 1981. He was assigned to the 80th Mobile Aerial Port Squadron. Becoming a Reserve Citizen Airman gave him the opportunity to serve, while continuing to work at his full-time job.
In 1984, he transferred to the 94th Combat Support Squadron, where he met up with a friend from his Masonic Lodge who would later become his supervisor and mentor, Ron Durant, retired Air Force Senior Master Sgt. and civil servant.
“Godfrey is like a son to me,” Durant said. “He always inspired others to do their best, no matter the task.”
In 1989, Godfrey was selected for a full-time Air Reserve Technician position with 94th Airlift Wing Plans and Programs. He either performed or familiarized himself with every position in transportation and logistics, from loading aircraft to traffic management. He worked his way up to senior planner.
In 1993, he attended NCO Academy at Robins Air Force Base. He was honored by his class peers and won the Commandant Leadership Award. In 1996, he attended Senior NCO Academy at Gunter AFB, Alabama, where he finished as an honor graduate.
Godfrey often would be requested by name to provide logistics support for events such as presidential visits, the 1996 Olympics, Air Force Reserve Command recruiting conferences and Atlanta Chapter Tuskegee Airmen conferences.
In addition to his primary duties, he served as the lead planner for many Dobbins Family Day events, and chairman of the Corn n’ Sausage Roast, an annual event that raises money for the Dobbins Emergency Assistance Fund.
“If it happened on Dobbins, Godfrey was a part of it,” Durant said. “The base is definitely a better place because of people like him.”
In 2005, Godfrey was selected as the 94th Maintenance Operations Flight superintendent and was promoted to Chief Master Sergeant. He retired from the Air Force in 2009 after 34 years. For the last 10 years, he served as the base transportation accountable officer as a civil servant. He was one of the last Vietnam combat veterans working at Dobbins.
“Not many people can say they worked in the same place for over 30 years, and loved every minute of it,” Godfrey said.
Today, he participates in a number of charitable events in Acworth, and plans to become certified to appraise antiques and muscle and classic cars.
A self-described “gearhead” and lover of performance cars, Godfrey’s cars have been featured in Muscle Car, Motor Trend and Mopar Muscle magazines.
– James Branch, 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
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