A veteran of WW II's daring and deadly 1943 Ploesti oilfield raids, Col. Dabney was an early OSS agent and flew one of the two planes that destroyed the bridge on the River Kwai in February 1945. As a reservist, he served as chief of staff in the office of the superintendent, playing an important role in creating the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

Col. Dabney's award was presented by Louisville businessman Frank B. Hower. The medallion was accepted by the colonel's son, Page Dabney of Bozeman, Mont.

Born in March 1922 in Louisville, Bill Dabney was educated at Los Alamos (N.M.) Ranch School. He graduated from Louisville Male High School and attended Colorado College. After his military service, he had a successful business career in Kentucky and later in Colorado. He died in March 2002 at his home in Denver. He is survived by his wife and two sons.