Biography

Vern Dayhoff was born on April 16, 1923 in York County, Pennsylvania. As war clouds formed over Europe, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in June 1941. Soon after, World War II broke out and he found himself in the China-Burma-India Theater where he served as crew chief on the famed North American B-25 “Mitchell” bombers flying the Humps on dangerous bombing routes.

After an honorable discharge from the army, Dayhoff kicked around finding various jobs as a construction worker, an assistant route foreman for a local newspaper, an auto mechanic and as a fireman on board the Seaboard Airline Railroad before re-enlisting in the Army Air Corps as a technical sergeant in 1947.

After more than 21 years of military service to his country, Dayhoff retired from the United States Air Force in 1964. Three years later, he was back at work as a teacher in Colorado. Dayhoff taught biology for 22 years at Colorado Springs’ General William (Billy) Mitchell High School in the same classroom – a school-district record that still stands.

During that time, he received multiple honors including the “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers” award — an honor only 5 percent of our nation’s teachers receive. Fewer than two percent of teachers are included in more than one edition — Dayhoff is a multiple-year honoree.

Today, Vern Dayhoff is happily married after 41 years to his wife Georgia. Together, they are enjoying retirement with their 5 daughters, 14 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren. He owes his longevity to his wife’s preservation of vegetables and her excellent cooking.

In his spare time, Dayhoff enjoys gardening and is an avid bird watcher with 3,141 species of birds counted on his life list. He is also an active member in several birding organizations.