Married brigadier general and colonel retire from North Carolina National Guard

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jordan | Army Maj. Gen. Beth Austin, assistant deputy commanding general, Army National Guard, Army Material Command, shares a moment with Col. Toni Coats at a retirement ceremony for Brig. Gen. William “Ronny” Coats and his wife Col. Toni Coats held at NCNG headquarters in Raleigh, N.C., March 19, 2015. This ceremony marked the end of their 60 years of combined service. One of the longest serving married couples in the NCNG, Brig. Gen. Coats completed 32 years of service as a NCNG aviation leader at home and overseas and finished his career as the Deputy Operations, Readiness and Training Officer for Forces Command at Fort Bragg, N.C. Col. Coats service of 28 years to state and nation ended as the NCNG Construction and Facility Management Officer. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jordan/Released)  

RALEIGH, NC, UNITED STATES

03.19.2015

Story by Capt. Matthew Boyle 

North Carolina National Guard

RALEIGH, N.C. - The North Carolina National Guard retired two Salemburg, North Carolina, residents and career Army officers, Brig. Gen. William “Ronny” Coats and Col. Toni Louise Coats, on March 19, 2015.

Ronny Coats retired from the N.C. Army National Guard after 32 years of service and Toni Coats is retiring from the NCNG after 28 years of service.

Ronny Coats enlisted in the North Carolina Army National Guard on May 10, 1982, as an Infantryman in the 30th Infantry Brigade. He received his officer’s commission through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at Campbell University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology.

"I have been fortunate to have a career doing what I love, while simultaneously having the opportunity to serve my state and country. I have been led by some extremely talented and great men and women, and have had the opportunity to lead some of the best Soldiers in the world,” said Ronny Coats.

He retired as the deputy operations, readiness, and training officer for Forces Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

"I want to express my appreciation to my family, friends and fellow Soldiers for all of the support they have shown me over the past 32 years. It has truly been a great experience," said Ronny Coats.

On this occasion, Ronny Coats’ wife, Toni Coats, retired as well.

Toni Coats enlisted in the N.C. National Guard in 1985. She received her officer’s commission through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology.

"As the daughter of a 30-year Army veteran who served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam, I have always been proud to carry on a tradition of military service. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to serve with some of the greatest Soldiers and military members in the world," said Toni Coats.

Upon her retirement, her last assignment was as the construction and facility management officer for the North Carolina Army National Guard.

"I also want to express my appreciation to my family, friends and fellow Soldiers for all of the support they have shown me over the past 28 years. I never planned on staying in this long, but when you find something you love, you stick with it. I have spent more of my life in the military than not. I look at our retirement ceremony as 'the halftime party' and look forward to more great times and opportunities in the future," said Toni Coats.

• Date Taken: 03.19.2015
• Date Posted: 03.20.2015 14:56
• Story ID: 157680
• Location: RALEIGH, NC, US