Ret. Col. Richard “Dick” Toliver is a “Top Gun” fighter pilot and a protégé of the famed Tuskegee Airmen and the author of a number of books including “An Uncaged Eagle: True Freedom”!
Colonel Toliver retired from the Air Force after twenty-six years of dedicated service, including two tours in Southeast Asia and 446 combat missions.
Since retiring from the Air Force, Colonel Toliver pursued several business, economic development, and political ventures in New Mexico, Alabama, Georgia, and Texas. His public service includes several years in New Mexico on the Public Safety Advisory Commission; Board of Regents, University of New Mexico; and Board of Directors of the Kirtland Partnership Committee. Since moving to Arizona in 2003, he has served on the Board of Director’s for the West Valley Hospital in Goodyear and held a key role in securing the Congressional Gold Medal for the Tuskegee Airmen. Colonel Toliver continues to be in demand as a motivational speaker nationwide and overseas, including trips to Canada, Germany, Iraq, Kuwait, Spain, Hawaii, and Japan. In September 2015, Colonel Toliver was featured in the 68th Birthday Article for the United States Air Force. In February 2016, he was included in Air Force’s Veterans in Blue – a Pioneering Combat Pilot.
Colonel Toliver has been married over fifty-three years to the former Margaret A. Hairston of Baltimore, Maryland. They have eight adult children, five of which are adopted or part of the family through acceptance, commitment, and love. The Tolivers reside near Phoenix in Goodyear, AZ.
An Uncaged Eagle is an historical and inspirational memoir that focuses on victory over adversity – the path to True Freedom
Col. Toliver’s autobiography “An Uncaged Eagle” is an historical and inspirational memoir that focuses on victory over adversity – the path to True Freedom. The book presents a powerful message of hope for anyone who has encountered great difficulties, and it helps the reader deal with unresolved issues in his or her life. It is especially inspiring to those who have encountered crippling emotional, mental, or physical traumas at an early age. The true-life stories can serve as an encouragement to anyone regardless of race, creed, gender, or national origin. The book can serve as a model of determination and perseverance regardless of the difficulties faced in one’s life. Ultimately, An Uncaged Eagle provides a roadmap for achieving forgiveness and restoration in the most difficult broken relationships. The book chronicles Colonel Toliver’s life from the dirt streets of Shreveport, LA to interacting with the King of Saudi Arabia, Ross Perot, and Coretta Scott King. It highlights a 26-year Air Force career punctuated by two tours in Southeast Asia, 446 combat missions, and a life-changing experience at 20,000 feet.