This Month's Featured Item from the Archives

Pilot Helmet and Flight Jacket

William A. “Art” Bloomer was born on January 23, 1933, in Bellaire, Kansas, and attended Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia from 1951 to 1955. While in college in Emporia, Bloomer majored in mathematics and physics. He was a member of Phi Sigma Epsilon fraternity, and was a varsity letterman in the K-Club for four years in both football and basketball. Bloomer's career in the Marine Corps started as an attempt to avoid having to leave college for active duty service by enlisting in a commissioning program for reserve officers. Upon his graduation in 1955, Bloomer was commissioned a 2 nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps and began what was presumed to be a temporary period of active duty.

Bloomer discovered that the Marine Corps offered him a good career opportunity, and he eventually spent 31 years on active duty. During that time Bloomer became a pilot and served as a flight instructor and as a test pilot. He flew reconnaissance aircraft and served a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1968/1969 that included 330 combat missions. His military decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V,” and 17 air medals. In 1975 he was aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Midway and participated in the evacuation of Saigon. In the later years of his Marine career Bloomer served as an assistant to two Secretaries of the Navy, and eventually retired as a Brigadier General.

In 1985 Emporia State University Alumni Association named Bloomer a Distinguished Alumnus. Besides his various business activities, Bloomer has continued to be involved with Emporia State University by serving on the Board of Directors of the ESU Foundation. Bloomer was a featured speaker at ESU's 2009 Commencement.

Brigadier General Bloomer's pilot helmet and flight jacket are just a small sample of the artifacts and historical records available in the Brigadier General William A. Bloomer Collection at ESU Archives. They represent yet another member of the ESU community serving with distinction in our armed forces to preserve and protect America.

The Brigadier General William A. Bloomer Collection is available for study through research service; please contact 620-341-6431 or archives@emporia.edu for further information. Additional items from the Bloomer Collection may be viewed on-line at http://www.emporia.edu/libsv/archives/Gallery/gallery_two.htm.

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Last Updated June 30, 2009