A/1C Joe Grimaud joined the AF right from high school in ’56 at age 17. A year later, he married Gladys and two years later, in Sep '60, joined Bravo Flt and was selected as an Asst Dir, Pers/Admin in Dec. Joe graduated in the top third of our class and Lt Grimaud was sent to Moody AFB, GA for pilot training and then to gunnery tng. In '66, Joe was Top Gun at USAF Fighter Weapons School and in ’67 went to SEA where he flew 100 missions north in the F-105 Wild Weasel. In ’73, Joe returned to SEA for a second tour, flying combat missions over Cambodia in the A-7. In the non-combat phase of his career, Joe managed to attend Armed Forces Staff College and earn himself both a BA in math from the University of Nebraska and an MBA from the University of Utah. Maj Grimaud retired in '76 and "...been in business ever since," he writes, "it has treated me good on average...most business interests are with Precision Tune Auto Care Centers throughout Southeast (and) some real estate interests ...Not all making money but enough to keep me out of trouble (most of the time) ...If we had to (we) could go back to a little one bedroom mobile home like...OCS." Bragging Rights: While in uniform, Joe earned a Silver Star, a DFC, 10 Air Medals, and the Joint Services Commendation Medal among others. Where he once flew the F-100, F105, and A-7D, Joe now flies a Lake Amphibian (won “Best Homebuilt Seaplane Award,” Experimental Aircraft Assn, Sun ‘N Fun Event, 2000). “ Still in love with wife Gladys of 45 years -. Three sons- pilots all - 6 grandkids. Still a bit crazy, enjoying life and blessed to be alive." Joe’s entrepreneurial skills have served him well. He is currently chief executive of multiple corporations overseeing 100 Precision Tune Centers across the U.S. and was named “Small Businessman of the Year, 1989,” by the Atlanta Business Journal. He has also given much of himself in community outreach programs and initiated the annual September commemoration of “Stop the Violence and Save our Children” month in 1994; Founded “City Light Columbia” in ’97. In Nov 2000, Joe was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives (SC), and he continues to be a popular speaker, frequent radio and television interviewee while staying active in local church doings as a speaker, soloist, and counselor.
updated January 5, 2006