A BIOGRAPHY OF
WILLIE AL GLASTER, JR.
WILLIE AL GLASTER, JR., was born on May 9, 1962, to the parents of Willie Al Glaster, Sr. and the late Mozella Glaster in Miami, Florida. In 1972, when his dad was deployed for a third tour of duty in Vietnam, his mom began a journey to raise four children as a single parent in her hometown of Valdosta, Georgia. At the age of 14, he accepted Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior at Evangel Temple.
During his freshman year at Valdosta High, Willie became interested and participated in the Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) program. At the end of the first year, he rose to the rank of Cadet Chief Petty Officer and was the first freshman recipient of the American Legion Bronze Medal as an Outstanding Midshipman. As a junior he attained the rank of Cadet Lieutenant Commander. He was selected as a WHO's WHO AMONG AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS for 1978 - 1980.
On December 9, 1980, Willie entered the United States Air Force at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas to begin a surprising career in the dental service field that would span twenty years. His first assignment was at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. In February 1983, he was assigned overseas to Royal Air Force Base Alconbury, England until May 1986. He returned to Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, from 1986 to June 1999. His final assignment was at Kelly Air Force Base from 1999 until his retirement in December 2000.
During his military career, Rev. Glaster had the additional responsibilities as an instructor for the Preventive Dentistry Training Program and Assistant Flight Chief for the 250 Contingency Hospital. He served with distinction during Operation Just Cause and Operation Desert Storm. From July 1993 to September 1994, he managed the Orthodontics department for four staff orthodontists, and supervised 10 junior enlisted personnel. In September of that year, he was assigned to Mackown Dental Clinic as manager of the Records and Reception section, until July 1998. During the 1997 Health Services Inspection, this section won a “Best Air Force Practice” award.
He served on the African-American Heritage Committee at Lackland from 1987 to 1992. He has written 13 poems, one that was published in the 1992 anthology entitled “A Question of Balance”, where he received an Honorable Mention from the National Library of Poetry. In December 1993, Willie received the Lackland Dental Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year Award. He has received decorations such as: the Air Force Commendation and Achievement Medals. In December 2004, he received the Certificate of Excellence for Outstanding Community Support from the San Antonio Housing Authority. The award was for an apartment ministry at the SpringView Townhomes.
Rev. Glaster has earned a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from Oblate School of Theology in 2006 and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Religion from Wayland Baptist University in 2000. He also has received an Associates Degree in Dental Assisting from the Community College of the Air Force in 1994. He was ordained in 2004 at Trinity Baptist Church, San Antonio, Texas. From 2002 to 2006, he was a Civil Service employee at the Brooks City-Base Education & Training Center and also at the Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph Air Force Base. From July 2006 to September 2008, he was an Associate Pastor/Employment Specialist at Corazon Ministries, Inc., formerly a non-profit organization of Travis Park United Methodist Church. He is now a Training Technician for METC, at Fort Sam Houston, TX.
His primary spiritual passions are in evangelism, teaching and pastor. He has served as an adult and youth counselor during the 1997 South Texas Billy Graham Crusade. He has completed chaplain internships at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital and the Bexar County Adult Detention Center. He was a member of the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office Re-Entry Task Force. Three of his future goals are to: plant and pastor Bright Morning Star Christian Center; do ministry in Africa and China, and help prepare younger ministers through teaching and training.
He is married to the former Anita Jeanette White of San Antonio, Texas. They have been happily married for 20 years and have two sons, ages 31 and 15. Anita is an Ordained Baptist Minister and Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). She has started a social service agency- Excel Ministries’ Progressive Women’s Center, as of June 2011.
In June 2011, during the week of Father’s Day, Willie located and found his father, Willie Sr., whom he had not seen in 39 years.
