FRANCIS DeELWARD BARBOUR
CLASS OF 1954
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE/ORDAINED DEACON
Francis DeElward Barbour graduated Covert High School in 1954. He is the eldest son of four children born to Francis and Osborne Barbour. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force that same year and became one of the first African American servicemen assigned to the Intelligence Career Field.
He was chosen for the elite group that ultimately established combat intelligence for the Strategic Bomber; assisted in writing portions of the Air Crew Manuals; became a member of NATO. Barbour was assigned to set up an Intelligence Unit in the early stages of the United States involvement in the Vietnam Conflict in 1964. Some of the strategies developed then were later refined and found to be extremely effective in the Desert Storm conflict.
Because of his many accomplishments Barbour earned the Bronze Star Medal and the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal. He was the Honor Graduate of his class at the NCO Academy Preparatory School. He was Mayor of a Royal Air Force military complex in Upper Heyford Gloushire, England.
Retiring from the Air Force after 21 years of service Barbour attended Bellevue University and obtained a B.A. in Business Administration. After three years of training in the Diaconate of the Archdiocese of Omaha and post graduate education in Theology at Creighton University Nabraska, F.D. Barbour was ordained a Deacon in the Catholic Church. He is one of the three African American Deacons in Omaha, Nebraska. He serves at Saint Benedict Moor Church.
DeElward Barbour attributes his most significant achievements to his marriage to Diana E. Brigham, Covert class of 1955. Barbour admits that without that single event there is great possibility that his achievements would not have been realized. He and Diana have four children Kevin, Donna, Kathy and Teresa. Barbour taught them "to reach for the stars and they would never come up with a hand full of dirt". His children would like to make it clear that they have always know that their father is a "Hall of Fam