Francis “Pete” Sullivan was born in Bowling Green in 1932 and graduated Bowling Green High School. He earned a football scholarship to Austin Peay State University, where he joined the Navy Aviation Cadet program. In 1955, he qualified as a Naval Aviator at Pensacola NAS and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the US Marine Corps. He completed 136 combat missions in the Vietnam War flying the Douglas A6 Skyhawk. Sullivan later commanded VMA-331 at MCAS Beaufort, SC. He retired in 1979 as a full colonel with numerous medals and awards.