State of Oklahoma Honors Director/CEO, Tinker Associates
Director/CEO Tom Shull
The state of Oklahoma, Military Order of the Purple Heart and Oklahoma Veterans Support Team bestowed high honors on Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull and Tinker Air Force Base Exchange associates on Nov. 10.
Shull received the Spirt of Oklahoma Outstanding Veteran Supporter of the Year award—the state’s highest honor for Veteran supporters—while Exchange Services Operations Assistant Dan Shibe was named Associate Volunteer of the Year. To top it off, the Tinker AFB Exchange received the Business Supporter of the Year award.
Retired Navy Master Chief Larry Van Schuyver, Military Order of the Purple Heart representative and chairman of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission, presented the awards during a virtual ceremony.
“Your entire staff at [the Exchange] follows your example of kindness, service, honor and integrity,” Van Schuyver said to Shull. “We are so blessed to be part of the Exchange. I count you as a mentor, and I thank you.”
Military Order of the Purple Heart chapters 589, 902, 602, 820 and 641 voted to present Shull the Spirit of Oklahoma in recognition of the Exchange’s robust employment of Veterans and Wounded Warriors. Past Spirit of Oklahoma award recipients include state Sens. Frank Simpson and Paul Rosino.
Shibe, a 22-year Veteran of the Air Force, received his award in recognition of his support of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission’s food basket program, which plans to feed more than 400 Veteran families in Oklahoma this holiday season.
During the ceremony, Shull honored Van Schuyver with a three-coin tower, recognizing his efforts to support Veterans in need across Oklahoma. Shull also presented General Manager Charles Eaves, Operations Manager Christina Griffin, Services Business Manager Kimberly Woodard and Shibe with Director/CEO coins to thank them for their efforts.
“It is truly a privilege to serve with amazing teammates like Larry, who are all in to honor our Nation’s Warfighters past, present and future,” said Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull. “The Exchange is humbled by this tremendous recognition, which would not have been possible without the managers and associates at the Tinker Exchange who work so hard every day to serve those who serve.”
72d Air Base Wing Vice Commander Col. Michael Tiemann introduces Retired Navy Master Chief Larry Van Schuyver, Military Order of the Purple Heart representative and chairman of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission, to present awards to Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull and the Tinker Air Force Base Exchange during a virtual ceremony streamed live from the Tinker AFB Exchange Nov. 10.
Tinker AFB Exchange General Manager Charles Eaves (left) accepts the Military Order of the Purple Heart’s Spirit of Oklahoma Outstanding Veteran Supporter of the Year award on behalf of Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull, who received the award for the Exchange’s robust employment of Veterans and Wounded Warriors and attended the Nov. 10 presentation ceremony virtually. Also pictured from left, Retired Navy Master Chief Larry Van Schuyver, Military Order of the Purple Heart representative and chairman of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission, and Joel Kintsel, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs.
From left, Tinker AFB Exchange General Manager Charles Eaves presents Retired Navy Master Chief Larry Van Schuyver, Military Order of the Purple Heart representative and chairman of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission, with a three-coin tower, recognizing Van Schuyver’s efforts to support Veterans in need across Oklahoma, on behalf of Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull Nov. 10 at the Tinker AFB Exchange.
Retired Navy Master Chief Larry Van Schuyver, Military Order of the Purple Heart representative and chairman of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission (middle), presents Tinker AFB Exchange General Manager Charles Eaves with the Military Order of the Purple Heart’s Business Supporter of the Year award Nov. 10 at the Tinker AFB Exchange.
Exchange West Central Region Vice President Danny Schmidt (right) presents an Exchange Director/CEO Challenge Coin to Tinker AFB Exchange General Manager Charles Eaves on behalf of Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull Nov. 10 at the Tinker AFB Exchange.
Exchange West Central Region Vice President Danny Schmidt (right) presents an Exchange Director/CEO Challenge Coin to Tinker AFB Exchange Operations Manager Christina Griffin on behalf of Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull Nov. 10 at the Tinker AFB Exchange.
Exchange West Central Region Vice President Danny Schmidt (right) presents an Exchange Director/CEO Challenge Coin to Tinker AFB Exchange Services Business Manager Kimberly Woodard on behalf of Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull Nov. 10 at the Tinker AFB Exchange.
Exchange West Central Region Vice President Danny Schmidt (right) presents an Exchange Director/CEO Challenge Coin to Tinker AFB Exchange Services Operations Assistant Dan Shibe on behalf of Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull Nov. 10 at the Tinker AFB Exchange. Shibe also received the Military Order of the Purple Heart’s Associate Volunteer of the Year award during the same presentation ceremony.
