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Chugiak, Alaska

Bruce Moroney, 52, the oldest of 10 children grew up in a flying family in Los Altos, California. On his 16th birthday Bruce soloed a Cessna 140 and on his 17th birthday, he earned his Private Pilot Certificate. After high school, Bruce entered the US Navy for four years, serving in VR-21 on DC-6 aircraft. College was next. He attended Foothill CC and Cal State Hayward, graduating with a degree in Aviation Management. Bruce moved to Alaska in 1974 and until 1977 was a bush pilot for operators from the Gulf Coast, Bristol Bay, Nome, the North Slope and the Trans Alaska Pipeline.

In 1977 he found a home for 19 years with MarkAir. After Mark Air folded he spent four years flying the MD-11 for World before moving to his current flying position with Atlas Air Cargo, flying the Boeing 747-400 worldwide. In 1976 Bruce joined the Iditarod Air Force. The Iditarod captivated him, as it does so many. After meeting Diana Dronenburg on the Iditarod in 1990, he began learning the art of training and running sled dogs. He ran his first race in 1993 and finished the Iditarod in 1994.

He says his best memory of running the Iditarod was his TV marriage proposal to Diana at Takotna, which was played at her finish in Nome. She answered "yes" and they were married in Anchorage in June of 1994. His worst memory of that race was being pulled unconscious from a tent at Finger Lake from carbon monoxide poisoning. Bruce is dedicating his race in 2001 to the memory of fellow pilot, musher and friend, Don Bowers who was tragically killed in an aircraft accident this summer. He says Don's book, Back of the Pack, inspired him to run the 2001 race. Bruce has two adult sons, Joshua and John. He lists his hobbies as flying and dog mushing.

Personal website: http://www.tri-star-aviation.com/iditarod/

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