Col. Herbert David Maddox of Plattsburg, N.Y. died August 10. He was 97.

Herbert was born on August 28, 1918 in Brush, Colo. to Nellie and Chet Maddox. The eldest of three children, he grew up with his sisters Dorothy DeJong and Shirley Harness in Englewood, just outside of Denver. The Maddox family were among the founders of the town and the owners of Maddox Ice Company.

He was a man of many talents and excelled in three careers, including decorated service in the United States Air Force, a celebrated engineer with Bell Laboratories, and a lifelong concert trombonist. He was a union member of Hollywood Local 47 and a life member of AFM Local 16-248 serving New York city.

Herbert began playing trombone at age seven in the Highlanders Youth Band in Englewood. By 13 he was traveling to Los Angeles, visiting his beloved aunt Olive, to perform in concerts. Shortly thereafter he became a member of Hollywood Local 47. He graduated in 1936 from Englewood High School, where he was a member of the senior band.

He studied electrical engineering at the University of Denver, paying his way through college by performing with bands seven nights a week at times. He performed regularly at Elitch Gardens in Denver and The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, among many others. During this time he sat in with the Dorsey Brothers and Duke Ellington. He graduated in 1940 and pursued advanced engineering courses at MIT, Harvard and Cleveland Institute of Radio Electronics.

Herbert was a slight man. He was underweight when he volunteered for service in 1942, and his recruiter for the Army Signal Corps suggested he spend a week eating only bananas and drinking beer to gain the pounds he needed. Herbert spent the week at the Coors Brewery in Golden, Colo. Not surprisingly, the only beer he drank for the rest of his life was Coors Banquet Beer.

After training in Monmouth, N.J. he was dispatched to Bury, England to serve with the RAF. He was a member of the Electronic Training Group responsible for developing the coastal radar defense system, for which he received the European/African/Middle Eastern Service Medal. After a brief return to the U.S. on leave, several members of his group volunteered to go back to England, but due to the attack on Pearl Harbor they were rerouted to New Guinea.

Herbert received the American Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star, American Service Medal Asiatic Pacific Service, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon for his defense of Clark Field in the Philippines. His trombone traveled with him throughout his service and he was a regular performer in the USO with Bob Hope.

While on leave to attend a staff communications school for two weeks in Orlando, Fla, he met his wife Eloise. They were married in Englewood on Oct. 21, 1945.

Two weeks later Herbert began work at Bell Laboratories in New York city. He worked on the Nike/Zeus, Sentinel, and Safeguard projects, and served a portion of his time as the supervisor for the flight testing program for Douglas Aircraft.

During this time period, Herbert played trombone with the Winston-Salem Symphony, The Jimmy Meyers Orchestra, The Harry Snell Trio, Ice Capades, Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus, and National Rodeo Association, as well as at concerts through Hollywood Local 47. He was an active reservist and retired as Colonel in 1972 with 30 years of Air Force service.

The family moved to Mountain Lakes, N.J. in 1965, where Herb continued to work for Bell Laboratories in Whippany. He dedicated his time outside of work to regular performances with a variety of acts including Bob Hope, Judy Garland, Arthur Godfrey, The Captain Kangaroo Show, American Steel and Weldry Band, The Fairleigh Dickinson University Symphonic Band, and The Silver Starlight Orchestra. He played at venues such as Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall, and The Bickford Theater. He also volunteered as a coach for local softball leagues and was an ardent supporter of local athletics. He actively supported his son and grandsons in their athletic endeavors in baseball, hockey, football, and luge.

He was predeceased by Eloise Stephens in June of 2009. He is survived by his daughter Sandra Maddox, his son David Maddox and his partner Cindy Curran, his grandson James Dolan and his partner Penny Allen, his grandson Lawrence Dolan and his wife Leslie Cosgrove, and his great-grandson Gabriel Dolan.

Services were held Tuesday, August 23 at RW Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh with prayers and words of remembrance delivered by Father Timothy Canaan and family members.

Interment will take place at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

The family thanks CVPH R-6 and Plattsburgh Rehab and Nursing Center for their excellent care of Herbert during his last weeks.

Donations in Herbert’s name may be made to The Honor Flight Network at honorflight.org.

To share online condolences, visit rwwalkerfh.com.