MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- In 1970 at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, the Airman’s club was hosting a dance competition. James Talley, a Missile Maintenance Technician with the 91st Strategic Missile Wing, was in attendance with some of his friends who had told him of some new arrivals at Minot. These arrivals were some of the first women to ever be stationed at Minot AFB. The winner of the dance competition was Sheila Taylor, a records manager and the new president of the Woman in the Air Force council. It was then that James decided he had to get to know her.
After the dance competition, James met Sheila at a house party on base where they immediately connected.
“I kept hearing about Sheila at the time.. beautiful woman,” he said. “We had a chance to talk and found out that we had a lot in common, that we could communicate with each other. So that’s how it all started.”
Shelia, who was from the south and not accustomed to the climate of the northern states, recalled some of the struggles she faced when she first arrived.
“We had a lot of women from the south and with the climate and all, they had to get used to that,” Sheila said. “And then just not having that many of us, I’m saying blacks of course, to actually socialize with and everything.”
Despite being in a different environment surrounded by people unlike them, the women in the WAF dorms were a close knit group.
“We ended up just having just an awesome time after we got over the initial adjustment of it all,” she said. “And after I met my husband, everything just changed.... Even in the harder winters I felt like it was summertime once I met the love of my life."
On the 24th of June, 1972, James and Sheila were married at the Northern Lights Chapel on base. Over the years, they started a family, had children who also serve in the Air Force and other branches, became grandparents and recently welcomed their first great-grandchild.
Almost 50 years later, the Talleys returned to Minot to visit the places where they used to spend time together, including the very chapel where they first said their vows.
The city of Minot as well as the Air Force base have changed significantly over the years, but one thing is certain - The "Magic City" of Minot has brought many people together - and for the Talleys, provided 50 happy years of marriage and a special place in their family’s history.