John Griffeth Houston

MAJOR JOHN GRIFFETH HOUSTON
U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1959

"Tiger John"
John Griffeth "Deke" Houston was born on May 15, 1936, in Portland, Oregon, to Jack and Esther Houston. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, John attended Cleveland High School in Portland for his freshman year before completing three years of foundational training at the Hill Military Academy, graduating with the class of 1954. Driven by a deep sense of purpose and a desire to take to the skies, he entered the newly established United States Air Force Academy in 1955. As part of the historic "First Class" to walk the grounds at Lowry AFB then Colorado Springs, John excelled in Cadet Squadron 3, graduating on June 3, 1959, and forever cementing his place in USAFA history.

Following graduation, John embarked on a rigorous path of military aviation, completing pilot training from 1959 to 1960 at Moore Air Base and Webb Air Force Base. He proved himself as a highly versatile pilot early on, flying tactical transport missions with the 62nd Troop Carrier Squadron at Sewart Air Force Base, followed by a deployment to Okinawa with the 345th Troop Carrier Squadron at Naha Air Base. In 1963, his exceptional survival skills were refined at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Jungle Survival School in Singapore, which would prove vital for his upcoming deployments to Southeast Asia.

By 1964, John was flying intensive transport operations with the 315th Air Division out of Qui Nhon Air Base in South Vietnam. Following a brief assignment back in the United States with the 29th Air Transport Squadron at McGuire Air Force Base, John volunteered to return to the front lines of the Vietnam War. From 1965 to 1967, he served as a Forward Air Controller (FAC) flying the O-1E Bird Dog with the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron (TASS) out of Gia Nghia. Navigating the hazardous, low-altitude airspace to spot targets and direct air strikes, John earned a reputation for extraordinary coolness under fire. His fierce bravery in combat earned him the lifelong callsign "Tiger John." Over his 16 years of active service, his heroism was recognized with a Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and an astonishing 18 Air Medals.

Transitioning from active combat to engineering development, John pursued postgraduate studies, earning a Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1969. He then leveraged this advanced knowledge as a test pilot at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, where he spent the remaining years of his military career evaluating cutting-edge weapon systems for fighter aircraft. Major Houston departed the Air Force in 1972.

Returning to his roots in Oregon, John transitioned into a highly successful civilian career. In 1971, he assumed leadership as President and CEO of Houston's, Inc., a master distributer of bar and restaurant supplies originally founded by his parents in 1933. Running the business on a bedrock of absolute integrity and a preference for handshake deals, John transformed the company from a modest two-person office into a massive nationwide distributorship operating a fleet of more than 50 trucks.

In 1988, John married his beloved wife, Renee. Upon retiring from the corporate world, John split his time between La Quinta, California, and Bend, Oregon. Retirement allowed him to dive passionately into his favorite hobbies: he was an avid golfer, an incredibly voracious reader, and a highly talented home designer who drew and constructed beautiful properties for both pleasure and profit. Remaining deeply tied to his military brotherhood, John was an active member of the Air Force Association, The Quiet Birdmen, The Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association (Red River Rats), and the USAFA Association of Graduates. True to his generous spirit, John and Renee fervently supported numerous charitable organizations, including the Boys and Girls Aid Society.

Major John G. Houston passed away May 2015, at Eisenhower Hospital in Rancho Mirage, California. Reflecting his permanent bond to his Academy brothers, his USAFA class ring was returned by his widow, Renee, and classmate Eugene Vosika to be melted down into the Academy's Forged in Blue ceremony, ensuring his legacy flows into the rings of future generations of graduates. He is remembered by all who knew him as a humble hero, a brilliant businessman, and a true pioneer of the Long Blue Line.

EDUCATION

• High School: Cleveland High School & Hill Military Academy (Class of 1954)
• Undergraduate: Bachelor of Science, United States Air Force Academy (Class of 1959)
• Survival Training: RAF Jungle Survival School, Singapore (1963)
• Professional Military Education: Squadron Officer School (SOS, 1965)
• Postgraduate: Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, University of Oklahoma (1969)

MEDALS & AWARDS

Ribbon / Decoration Total Awarded
Silver Star 1
Distinguished Flying Cross 2
Air Medal 18
Air Force Commendation Medal 1

SERVICE ASSIGNMENTS

Years Duty / Role Location / Unit
1955–1959 Cadet United States Air Force Academy, CO
1959–1960 Pilot Training Moore Air Base, TX / Webb Air Force Base, TX
1960–1962 Pilot 62nd Troop Carrier Squadron, Sewart Air Force Base, TN
1962–1964 Pilot 345th Troop Carrier Squadron, Naha Air Base, Okinawa
1964 Pilot 315th Air Division, Qui Nhon Air Base, South Vietnam
1964–1965 Pilot (C-130E) 29th Air Transport Squadron, McGuire Air Force Base, NJ
1965–1967 Forward Air Controller (FAC), O-1E 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron (TASS), Gia Nghia, South Vietnam
1967–1969 Graduate Student University of Oklahoma, OK
1969–1972 Test Pilot (Fighter Systems) Tyndall Air Force Base, FL