Wichita Falls earns top AETC community support award Published Jan. 19, 2012 Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The commander of Air Education and Training Command, Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr., announced Wichita Falls, Texas, as the winner of this year's Altus Trophy for outstanding community support. The Altus Trophy was established in 2010 to recognize the community that best supports its local AETC unit. Seven communities took part in the competition this year, said Dr. Joe Leverett, chairman of the Altus Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee, which oversees the award. Montgomery, Ala., and Little Rock, Ark., emerged with Wichita Falls as the three finalists. Three former AETC commanders, retired generals Bill Looney, Don Cook and Stephen Lorenz, judged the finalists' packages, selecting Wichita Falls as the winner. Wichita Falls community leaders Kay Yeager, Glenn Barham and Carl Law accepted the trophy from last year's winner Columbus, Miss., in front of 3,500 AETC Airmen at the AETC Symposium in San Antonio. Attendees had the opportunity to look at the contributions made by the finalists, along with the Enid, Okla.; Columbus, Miss.; Del Rio, Texas; and San Angelo, Texas, communities. Their award nominations were all on display in the Altus booth of the Air Force Association's Expo Hall at the symposium. "We could never do what we do in service to our country without the steadfast support from the communities we are a part of," Rice said. "They're always there for us, just as I know our Airmen are there when they need our support."