Coming home felt different for Kirk Quinlivan. It wasn't just about relocating; it was about giving his son Kirk Quinlivan III the chance to grow up in the same kind of supportive community that shaped him.
“I grew up here,” Quinlivan said. “Came here when I was nine months old. Did all my school years here.”
After high school, his career in full-time ministry took him far from home, with work in Romania, Canada, Colorado, and nearly 30 years spent largely in the Pacific Northwest. There, he married, had a son, and built a life of service.
Yet, the roots eventually pulled him back.
“We wanted him to grow up here,” he explained. “Family land is here. Cost of living’s better. And I’ve got a lot of good memories of this place.”
Four years ago, the family returned. Now, his son is a sophomore at Marshfield High School—walking the same halls his father once did—while his wife teaches Spanish there.
“It’s pretty wild,” Quinlivan said, “In a good way.”The Spark: An Obsession with Flight
This story, however, belongs to the son. It’s about the passion he discovered: flying.
“He was never scared of airplanes,” Quinlivan recalled. “Always loved them. From the time he was little, it was spaceships, airplanes… all of it.”
What started as childhood play became serious in Oregon, where, at age 12, he joined the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). CAP, the U.S. Air Force auxiliary, introduces young people to aviation, leadership, and service.
“They try to get kids in the air as soon as possible,” Quinlivan said. “That’s part of it. You catch the bug or you don’t.”
He caught the bug.Setting a Course: "I Want to be a Fighter Pilot"
His first true flight came after the move to Missouri. At 13, he logged real flight time in a single-engine Cessna. He stepped out of that plane with a singular goal: “I want to be a fighter pilot,” he told his dad.
He has been relentlessly focused ever since.
Achieving this dream requires more than ambition; it demands excellence. He maintains straight A’s in tough classes, earning every bit of his success, as his father notes: “He’s not one of those kids it just comes easy to. He earns every bit of it.”
His resume is comprehensive, designed for a shot at the Air Force Academy: student government, volunteering, church, and sports. Leadership Takes Off
A major part of his journey is the Civil Air Patrol. This involves weekly meetings, statewide leadership training, and time on military bases learning discipline and structure.
His commitment quickly led to leadership roles. At just 15, he commanded a flight of 11 cadets during a statewide encampment. This year, he’s stepping into an even larger role: second in command of cadets for the entire state encampment at the Missouri Military Academy.
Alongside these roles, he earned a rare "green light," an honor given to only two cadets per state each year. This recognition opened the door to advanced flight training, including glider school, where young cadets can solo an aircraft.
The former boy who played with toy airplanes is now logging real flight hours, applying for scholarships, and working toward his private pilot’s license before graduating high school. If everything aligns, he could enter the Air Force Academy or an ROTC program already licensed, trained, and ahead of the curve.More Than Accomplishments
What truly defines his success, according to his dad, is his character.
“He works hard,” Quinlivan said. “Really hard. And he cares about people.”
As the current cadet commander of the Springfield squadron, he’s not just pursuing his own goals; he's mentoring others.
“He’s got kids under him who don’t even want to be in the military,” Quinlivan noted. “They just want to be better leaders. And he’s pouring into them.”
The story ultimately circles back to direction, discipline, and purpose. In a roundabout way, it reaffirms why the family returned: a small town on familiar ground, a place where a kid can chase a huge dream while still being surrounded by a community that knows his name.
For Kirk Quinlivan, watching his son find his path and take off with it is a feeling that is truly surreal.
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