Capt. Michael E. Cox, Class of 1975, was declared dead on May 28, 1985. He had been missing at sea for six days as the result of an F-4D aircraft accident in the Gulf of Mexico, which occurred during a Copper Flag exercise at Tyndall AFB, Fla. At the time, Michael was an instructor weapons system officer (WSO) with the 308th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron from Homestead AFB, Fla.

Captain Cox was born Feb. 3, 1953 in Orlando, Fla. He was married to Deanna Kater of Colorado Springs in 1975.

At the Academy he was a member of Cadet Squadron “Tiger 10” and after graduation attended Undergraduate Navigator Training (UNT) at Mather AFB, Calif. After UNT, Michael served as an F-4 WSO at Nellis AFB, NV; Kadena AB, Okinawa; Taegu AB, Korea; Moody AFB, Ga.; and Homestead AFB. Captain Cox had recently graduated from the Flying Safety Office Course at Norton AFB, Calif. He had also served as a squadron flying safety officer at both Moody AFB and Homestead AFB. Michael was working toward, and lacked only one course, to attain a Master of Science degree in systems management.

Michael touched many lives and impressed his fellow officers with his easy-going yet hard-working personality. For those of us who knew Mike, his loss has created a void which will be hard to fill, but the memory of his smile and quick wit helps to ease the pain.

Michael is survived by his wife, Deanna; daughter, Michele; parents, Arthur and Lois Cox; brothers, Duane, Phillip, and David; and sister Merri Cox Burgess.

Capt Perry Hubbard  |  March 1985