By Andrew Goodman, Oswaldo Guzman
Wednesday, March 3, 2021, Four-Star Air Force General Arnold Bunch Jr. visited the Morristown-Hamblen High School West campus after visiting Morristown-Hamblen High School East. General Bunch grew up in Morristown and attended John Hay Elementary, Meadowview Middle, and Morristown East High Schools. He is the brother of West High teacher Kim Cook.
Bunch was commissioned in 1984 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He completed undergraduate pilot training in 1985. Following graduation from the Air Force Test Pilot School, General Bunch conducted developmental testing in the B-2 Spirit and B-52. Bunch is responsible for installation and mission support, discovery and development, test and evaluation, life cycle management services and sustainment of virtually every major Air Force weapon system.
During Bunch’s visit to West, he met student council members, who presented him with a gift, the West High principal and assistant principals, and JROTC members followed by a live presentation to all Hamblen County Schools with select students being invited to watch in-person in the auditorium. During his presentation, Bunch shared some word of encouragement to students and teachers. He thanked teachers and students for their work and perseverance during the pandemic. He went on to share that students should not be afraid to step forward and do something no one else in the community has done. Also during his presentation, Bunch gifted his former East High geometry teacher and now West High Math Teacher, Linda Sedlack, a special Air Force coin with his signature and job position engraved.
West High would like to thank General Bunch for his visit and presentation.
