Alabama’s governor ordered flags lowered in his honor, members of Congress paid tribute to his service, and thousands of donors rallied around his family. Now, fellow alumni have established an Auburn scholarship to honor Maj. Alex Klinner by supporting students following a path similar to his own.
Auburn University announced that the Major Alex Klinner Memorial Endowed Scholarship will support a mechanical engineering student who is also a cadet in Auburn’s Air Force ROTC program. Awards will begin in 2027 and, through the endowment, continue for generations to come.
Klinner, a 2016 Auburn mechanical engineering graduate, was killed with five other crew members March 12 when a U.S. military KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq during Operation Epic Fury.
Born and raised in Auburn, Klinner was a third-generation Auburn graduate who became an Air Force pilot and instructor. His parents, Johnny and Mary Ellen Klinner, still live in Auburn. His wife, Libby, and their three children live in the Birmingham area, where he was stationed at the time of his death.
In the university’s article, Libby remembered a husband whose willingness to serve extended well beyond his military duties.
“He was the type of person who would do anything for other people — that made him a great partner and a great parent. He was really hardworking, and he applied that in every area of his life, including being a dad,” Libby said.
His father remembered the same qualities.
“He was a good kid and a fantastic father. We couldn’t have asked for anything more,” Johnny said. “He was a strong Christian. A hard worker. He never gave up — he was very driven. He liked everybody and he wanted to help everybody.”
Those accounts also moved John Prunkl, a 1990 Auburn mechanical engineering graduate, and fellow members of the Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board to establish the scholarship in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.
“He worked hard to become an Auburn Mechanical Engineer, followed his dreams of being a U.S. Air Force pilot and was a third-generation Auburn graduate we can all be proud of and should never forget,” Prunkl said. “The Maj. Alex Klinner Scholarship will keep his spirit alive and inspire future generations for years to come.”
The scholarship adds to several tributes following Klinner’s death.
Gov. Kay Ivey directed flags across Alabama to be lowered on the day of his interment. Alabama’s congressional delegation honored the fallen airmen on the House floor, and the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution recognizing all six crew members.
Community support also reached his family. As Yellowhammer News previously reported, a fundraiser for Libby and the children had surpassed $1 million by March 17.
At Auburn, the new scholarship will connect Klinner’s memory to the department where he earned his degree and to cadets preparing for military service. The university is inviting contributions to support the endowment.
Libby said her husband would serve as an example for future engineers and cadets receiving the scholarship.
“He was the type of role model who I really wanted my kids to grow up watching, because I wanted them to be that type of partner for somebody else,” she said. “The type of person who always puts others first.”
For future scholarship recipients, Mary Ellen offered a few words of advice drawn from her son’s life.
“Persevere. Work hard. Don’t quit,” she said.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
