“Meet the Docents” Series #2: Lemon, McKenna and McNamee
Meet Dennis Lemon
Dennis Lemon has been a member and docent of the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum since January of 2007. Dennis also went on tour with our B-25 and B-17 for three years. He is from all over including Ft. Thomas, Kentucky, Athens, Ohio, and Kansas City, Missouri. He has been married for 56 years to his sweetheart, RuthAnn, and they have four children, three of which are surviving,15 grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. We sat down with Dennis to find out a little more about him:
Q: Why did you join the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum and become a docent?
A: My wife, RuthAnn, knew of my passion for WWII and Military Aircraft. We had joined an AlliedSignal/Honeywell retirement group in 2005 and had the good fortune of touring the museum with a group of like-minded retirees. Our tour guide was Buck Buchanan. He made the aircraft come alive for all of us including my wife. I told RuthAnn that was something that I would like to do. So, it was a big surprise to me when my Christmas present for 2006 was a ride in Sentimental Journey. And to cement the deal, my son and daughter-in-law bought me a year’s membership in the national and local unit. After taking my ride in Jan 2007, I had to figure out how I could contribute to such a worthwhile organization.
Q: What is your favorite part of being a docent?
A: My favorite part of being a docent is meeting the incredible variety of people that come to the museum. Since I have traveled to many parts of the country and lived in the Midwest for 35 years it is fun to visit with individuals who share common experiences like the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, the lakes, and streams of Missouri’s Ozarks, The Big 12 Conference, missile silos, working with nuclear weapons, and much more.
Q: Do you have a military connection?
A: Most definitely. My dad was a WWII vet and a career enlisted man who started in 1935 in the Infantry. He retired in 1965 as a Senior Master Sargent working in communications. I was a GI brat! However, when I asked my Dad if I should follow in his footsteps he said, “If Uncle Sam wants you he will call you” … “you go to college…” and then later “you go to work.” Working in aerospace and nuclear weapons manufacturing I was never very far from war fighters and their airborne tools.
Q: Tell us more about things you like to do.
A: I like doing family history research. I have learned many things from working in various roles in scouting for over 45 years. I learned a lot about local, state, and federal government serving as a City Councilman for five terms (10 years) in Grandview, MO. I learned how to effectively teach and work with people as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints serving in many different positions from teacher, to leader of youth and adult organizations, and four years as a Bishop of a congregation called the Kansas City 3rd Ward. I have performed several marriages and conducted many more funerals. I am comfortable speaking to small and large groups.
Meet Robert “Mac” McKenna
Mac started as a docent when he joined the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum three years ago. Before coming to AZCAF, Mac was in Business Ownership, Management and Consulting. Originally from Indiana and Michigan, Mac and his wife have two children: a son and a daughter; and two grandchildren, Sophie and Mason. We sat down with Mac to find out a little more about him:
Q: Why did you join the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum and become a docent?
A: I joined AZCAF because aviation is one of my interests. I chose to be a docent because I like to talk about and learn about aviation, especially the planes and aviators.
Q: What is your favorite part of being a docent?
A: My favorite part of being a docent is interacting with my fellow docents and our guests. I once had a woman who I gave a tour of the museum to who was held captive by the Japanese in Manka for three years. She really wanted to see the C-47 because it was the first plane to fly her home upon release from prison.
Q: Do you have a military connection?
A: I was a B-52 Navigator in the United States Air Force.
Meet Jim McNamee
From Columbus, Ohio, Jim now resides in both Rochester, Michigan, and Scottsdale, Arizona. Jim has been a docent for two months and a member of the AZCAF for one year. He is married and has two daughters and six grandchildren. Jim spent nearly 50 years in the banking industry retiring as Senior International Credit Officer for Bank One (now J.P Morgan Chase). We sat down with Jim to find out a little more about him:
Q: Why did you join the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum and become a docent?
A: I joined the AZCAF after I flew on the B-25 for my 75th Birthday. I enjoy meeting people and sharing historical information and this was a chance for me to learn from others as well.
Q: What is your favorite part of being a docent?
A: I enjoy providing historical information to people who are unaware of some events that happened during WWII. I always suggest that visitors look at the airplanes, especially the B-17 and C-47. I like to tell them about the unknown story of the Forgotten 500 and Falcon Field. I have enjoyed meeting some of the WWII vets that have visited the museum as well.
Q: Do you have a military connection?
A: I spent nearly three years in the United States Air Force (between 1962 – 1965) at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. I was the Accounting and Budget Officer for Headquarters, Air Weather Service.
