Colonel William Boyd Driggers, Jr., US Air Force (Retired)

Colonel William Boyd Driggers Jr., United States Air Force (Retired), passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 27, 2026, at the age of 89. He was a native of Hartsville, South Carolina, born on April 4, 1937, to William Boyd Driggers and Willie Mae Benson Driggers. Known professionally as Bill, he remained “Billy” to his family and friends throughout his life.

Bill graduated in 1955 from Hartsville High School, where he was selected for the All-State Band, Boys State, and Boys Nation. He attended The Citadel, where he earned a B.S. in Physics, served as Commander of G Company and on the Honor Court, and was a member of the prestigious Summerall Guards. Having grown up surrounded by examples of military service among the men in his family, Bill developed an early sense of duty and commitment to country and resolved at a young age to become a fighter pilot. Upon graduating from The Citadel in 1959, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

Bill completed pilot training at Bartow Air Base, Florida, and Laredo Air Force Base, Texas. While in Florida, Bill met Susan Ott, and the two were married in 1961 at Beymer Methodist Church. For the next 65 years, they shared a life of adventure and dedication to country, faith, and family.

Later in 1961, Bill was assigned to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, where he served as an instructor pilot for more than four years. He then completed RF-4 Phantom II training with the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. In February 1966, he was assigned to the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Toul-Rosières Air Base, France, where he flew the RF-4. From September 1966 through April 1967, he deployed to Southeast Asia for the first of two combat tours, serving as an RF-4 reconnaissance pilot with the 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam. He subsequently returned to the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw, this time as an RF-4 instructor pilot, until 1968.

Following several years as an operations and personnel staff officer at Headquarters Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, Bill returned to flying and completed F-4 training with the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

In March 1972, Bill returned to Southeast Asia as an F-4 Phantom II pilot and flight commander with the 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, at Ubon Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand. During this second combat tour, he flew tactical missions during Operations Linebacker and Linebacker II and participated in the May 10, 1972 strike against the Paul Doumer Bridge near Hanoi.

Across his two combat tours, Bill flew 337 combat missions totaling more than 714 combat hours, including 169 missions over North Vietnam. His combat service was recognized with nine Distinguished Flying Crosses and 30 Air Medals. He was also a member of the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, known as the River Rats. In total, during a flying career that took him throughout the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia, Bill accumulated more than 4,000 flying hours, including approximately 1,600 hours as an instructor pilot, and attained the aeronautical rating of Command Pilot.

Following his return from Southeast Asia in 1973, Bill served at Headquarters Air National Guard and Headquarters U.S. Air Force in Washington, D.C., working in flying-hour and aircraft allocation and later as a Fighter Programs Staff Officer. He subsequently completed F-4 instructor training with the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, and served with the 56th Tactical Fighter Wing at MacDill Air Force Base as Chief of Safety and an F-4 instructor pilot.

As his career progressed, Bill moved from operational flying into positions of increasing command and senior leadership. During this period, he earned an M.A. in Administration from Central Michigan University. His professional military education included Squadron Officer School, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and the National War College at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C.

During the final years of his Air Force career, Bill served as Base Commander at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, with the 554th Combat Support Group from 1980 to 1982. He subsequently returned to Washington, D.C., where he served in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, first as Deputy Division Chief of the Programs Division and later as Division Chief of the Congressional Inquiry Division. His service in senior leadership, command, operations, and national-level staff assignments was recognized with two awards of the Legion of Merit and three Meritorious Service Medals.

During his military service, Bill was a member of the Order of Daedalians, a fellowship of military pilots, and served on the Board of Directors of the National Capital Chapter of the Air Force Association.

Following his retirement from the Air Force, Bill continued his involvement in national defense and public policy. He spent 13 years as Director of Congressional Relations for Texas Instruments and later Raytheon, where he was responsible for liaison with the U.S. House of Representatives, including the House Armed Services and Appropriations Committees. He later founded W.B. Driggers and Associates, a government relations firm representing primarily defense-oriented clients, and subsequently joined the DLM Group as a partner and adviser on federal relations matters.

During his work in legislative relations, Bill served as Chairman of the Defense Committee of the Legislative Affairs Council of the Electronic Industries Association and was a member of the American Defense Preparedness Association.

Beyond his military and professional career, Bill was devoted to his faith and to serving God through helping others. He regularly attended church and participated in Bible study and prayer, both in groups and in solitude. Through his partnership with Africa New Life Ministries, he developed a special commitment to young people in Rwanda. Bill supported the work of Africa New Life and directly supported 19 children, providing them with love, attention, spiritual and life mentoring, and assistance that helped many attend college or vocational school. He traveled often to Rwanda, continuing those journeys well into his eighties. His Rwandan family lovingly called him “Papa Bill.”

Closer to home, Bill regularly visited local prisons and jails, where he taught leadership classes and Bible studies. His involvement with the men he served continued after their release, often helping them as they worked to get back on their feet and rebuild their lives.

Throughout his life, Bill was known for his outgoing spirit, warmth, and genuine kindness toward others. He retained those qualities until the very end and was deeply loved by the many people whose lives he touched. His legacy is found not only in what he accomplished, but in the people he served, encouraged, and helped along the way.

Bill leaves behind his wife of 65 years, Susan Driggers; two sons, William Scott Driggers (Lisa) and William Boyd Driggers III (Nell); seven grandchildren, Lauren (Justin), Shaw, Virginia (Eric), Caroline (Sam), Amelia (Grant), Boyd, and Max; and two great-grandchildren, Cameron and Grayson. He was preceded in death by his younger brother, Martin Scott Driggers, an Air Force veteran and attorney in Hartsville, South Carolina.

Colonel Driggers will be interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on January 7, 2027, at 1:00 p.m. The family will also hold a memorial service at a church in Northern Virginia near the time of his interment, providing an opportunity for family and friends to gather in remembrance and celebrate his life. Details will be announced as the date approaches.

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Colonel William Boyd Driggers, Jr., United States Air Force (Retired).