"Ed" Erxleben enlisted in 1951 at age 17. In 1954, he married Gwyneth while serving at Castle AFB, CA as an ATC radar mechanic. At Laughlin AFB, TX, TSgt Erxleben was both a maintenance tech and a movie star (Alamo, 1960, John Wayne, et al). Ed was thus one of the most senior ranking enlisted men to join Bravo Flt in Sept 1960.
Upon graduation, Lt Erxleben attended Ground Electronics Officer Course at Keesler AFB MS and was assigned to Truax Field, WI (ADC) in 1962. Then it was back to Keesler for Atlas ICBM schools en route to Offutt AFB on the Atlas D (549th Squadron). Ed spent 1964-65 at Little Rock AFB, AR (Titan II) and then volunteered for SEA duty. He served at Monkey Mountain near Danang with 620th Tactical Control Squadron 1965-66. Capt. Erxleben returned stateside to Keesler once more for Comm Staff Officer Course and again was assigned to Offutt. In 1969 he was assigned to Hanscom Field, MA and in 1971 to Ellsworth AFB, SD (Minuteman). He retired in 1972, a major w/2 AFCM and over 21 years of service at the age of 38.
For the next 27 years Ed worked in the Arkansas State Government system. First as assistant Director of State Purchasing for 3 years, then as contracting official for the University of Arkansas For Medical Sciences for 6 years. In Jan. 1981 Arkansas Governor Frank White appointed him to the position of Director, Office of State Purchasing and he continued in this position under the next three Governors. During this period he was elected President of the National Association of State Purchasing Officials, 1988-1989. In 1991 Ed received the Arkansas State Police Distinguished Service Award for extraordinary performance for his work with the State Police in the development of a statewide communications system. In 1993, he served as President of the Arkansas Chapter of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing and was selected as the Arkansas Administrator of the Year by the American Society of Public Administration in 1999. Upon his retirement in February of 2000 from State Government he was awarded a Capitol Citation for his contributions to the State of Arkansas. Ed and Gwyneth have two children and six grandchildren.
Ed enjoys fishing, hunting (especially black-powder, muzzle-load rifle). He still has his 1975 MGB roadster he bought new. "...in mint condition” and ." he says further, "I belong to a British Sports Car Club...participate in rallies...the car has won 1 st place in the last two shows.”