Distinguished alumni address Madera seniors

Gen. Garrison, Tenisha Armstrong return home for graduation

Two distinguished Madera Unified School District alumni returned to Madera High School and Madera South High School last week to address graduating seniors.

Brig. Gen. Clayton Garrison spoke to Madera High’s graduating class Thursday, and historian Tenisha Armstrong delivered the commencement address Friday for Madera South High School.

After graduating in 1984 from Madera High, Garrison entered the U.S. Air Force Military Academy and graduated in 1988 with a degree in aeronautical engineering and a commission as a 2nd lieutenant.

Garrison trained as a fighter pilot with NATO. Seven of his 14 years of active duty were spent in East Asia. In 2002, he joined the California Air National Guard and was assigned to the 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno where he continued flying F-16 fighters and climbed the chain-of-command to the rank of colonel...