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Farewell, Phil

t was with much sadness when, without warning, we lost one words, military families “will benefit from Phil’s hard work for
Iof our own. On Sunday, Sept. 2, Phil Gray, managing editor of years to come.”
E and C News, passed away at the age of 57. Besides being an insightful and careful editor, he was a sweet
He is survived by his loving family: his wife Margarette and and caring person.
two sons, Robert and Gordon, as well as his mother and father, He frequently spoke “British,” and though “cheers” or “cheer-
who reside in England. He was born there, in the London suburb io,” “old chap” or even “ta” were easy enough, some idioms
of Ealing, on New Year’s Day in 1961. less familiar to Brooklynites or Midwesterners took us a while to
Phil was always a bright spot in the office: smiling, “chipper,” understand, and the humour (with a second “u”) often remained
looking for the positive side of things. From his “top o’ the morn- downright puzzling.
ing” till his “hasta manana” to the cleaning crew as one of the last Earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in 1982 from
to leave at night, he was truly enjoyable to work with — not to say St. Mary’s College, University of London, Strawberry Hill, Phil
there were never differences of opinion … which were worked out also studied language at the Université de Dijon in France. He
amicably, with civility, for the good of the team. Phil Gray experienced military life on NATO bases in Europe while serving
Philippe A. Gray took the reins as managing editor of Exchange as a cadet with the Royal Air Force. After moving to the United
and Commissary News in July 2004. He took great pride in covering and States in the late 1980s, he served in editorial and marketing managerial
writing about the military resale market and meeting all who were part of it, positions with Franklin Watts and Houghton Mifflin publishing companies
those whom it served and those who worked in and with it, leaders and staff before joining E and C News.
of resale services and agencies, manufacturers, brokers and other suppliers. Funeral services were held on Sept. 8 at St. Peter of Alcantara R.C. Church
Working with him was sometimes challenging, as he could now and then in Port Washington, N.Y. Donations in remembrance of Phil can be made to
get lost in the myriad of details and overlook deadlines; but he wrote with a favorite charity of his: the North Shore Animal League America, at 25 Davis
verve and passion when it came to protecting military servicemember and Ave., Port Washington, NY 11050.
family benefits. In the words of one resale patron directly affected by his Farewell, Phil … you will forever be in our thoughts and prayers.

Obituary-Russ Moffett, Commissary Shoppers Earn More Than

Military Resale Advocate $4 Million in Military Star Card Rewards

• DALLAS
ussell N. “Russ” Moffett, 71, who followed up a he Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) reported in mid-October
Rdistinguished military career that culminated in Tthat in the year since servicemembers and their families have been able
helping to establish the Defense Commissary Agency to use the Military Star card at Department of Defense (DoD) commissaries,
(DeCA) with positions in the military resale vendor military shoppers have earned more than $4 million in rewards, just from
community and the American Logistics Association buying groceries at their local Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) stores.
(ALA), passed away on Oct. 24. Commissaries began accepting the Military Star card as a form of pay-
Moffett reached the rank of command chief master ment in October 2017, with all 237 worldwide locations accepting the card
sergeant in the Air Force during a 29-year career that Moffett by November 2017.
began in 1965 and included tours during the Vietnam and Gulf War conflicts. Since acceptance at the com-
Following numerous other Air Force management-level positions, from 1987 missary started, more than 335,000 AAFES IMAGE
until 1990 he was a commissary management specialist and senior enlisted shoppers have spent more than $204
manager at the Air Force Commissary Service’s (AFCOMS) Northwest Region, million on groceries with the card. As
McChord AFB, Wash. with all Military Star card purchases,
From 1990 until his retirement from military service in 1994, Moffett served they earned two points for every dollar
initially as senior enlisted advisor to the AFCOMS commander, later becoming as part of the card’s rewards program,
the first senior enlisted advisor to the director of the newly minted DeCA. which automatically earns them a $20
Moffett joined military rep firm Francois L. Schwarz Inc. in 1994 as ex- rewards card with every 2,000 points.
change business manager. In 1995, the firm was purchased by Sarvis Inc., For commissary shoppers, that trans-
where Moffett became vice president, Headquarters Operations. lated into more than $4 million in rewards earned in the first year alone.
Joining the ALA team in June 2008 as vice president, Commissary Affairs “Groceries are everyday expenses that can now earn rewards for service-
and Member Relations, he quickly established himself as a strong military resale members, thanks to the Military Star card,” said Air Force Chief Master Sgt.
advocate, dealing with efforts to improve resale benefits for deserving patrons. Luis Reyes, AAFES’s senior enlisted advisor. “Plus, every Military Star card
In 2017, Moffett was awarded the ALA Lifetime Achievement Award for purchase helps to support on-installation quality-of-life programs that are
his dedication and contribution to the support of the military benefit. critical to keeping our warfighters and their families ready and resilient.”
“He had a great passion for the well-being of our men and women in
uniform and their families,” ALA noted in an Oct. 25 remembrance. “Even MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING
on the day of his passing, Russ Moffett disregarded his health concerns and The card’s acceptance at the commissary was many years in the making.
made continual calls to colleagues to discuss ongoing resale initiatives and The Exchange Credit Program, which is administered by AAFES, had long
ways to improve the process.” been in discussions with DeCA to reach an agreement that would allow
Moffett is survived by his wife, Bonita, director of DeCA’s East Area; three shoppers to use the card in commissary stores.
children, and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other family The organizations worked together to overcome logistical obstacles — such
members. as updating and integrating register systems — to make it easier for military
A memorial service was held at the Fort Lee, Va., Memorial Chapel on Nov. shoppers to earn rewards.
7, with burial at Arlington National Cemetery. “The Military Star card’s goal is to make the card more convenient and
Donations can be made to Fisher House at http://engage.fisherhouse.org/ rewarding for our servicemembers, retirees and their families,” said Kathy
moffett to support the Scholarships for Military Children program. Condo- Bronkalla, vice president (VP) of Exchange Credit Strategy. “Partnering with
lences can be registered online at http://www.parrfuneralhome.com. the commissary was a huge step to evolving the card to fit the military com-
munity’s lifestyle.”
—E and C NEWS
8 | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 EXCHANGE and COMMISSARY NEWS