Profiles of Life: Charles Russell "Rusty" Keithline IV

The people "Rusty" Keithline met would routinely praise him to his father, Charlie.

The bosses Rusty Keithline, 24, of Moore would work for, the peers he befriended, all bragged to Charlie about his son.

"Anytime you would talk to people about Rusty... they would say he's a good boy - unsolicited people," his father said. "That felt good being his dad. He always made me proud like that."

Rusty Keithline had just moved to the Emerald Springs Apartments in Moore and had recently enrolled in classes, returning to the University of Oklahoma. He had been pondering for a year which career to pursue and had chosen aviation.

The 1994 graduate of Bishop Kelley High School had wanted to be a pilot ever since seeing the movie "Top Gun," but that ambition had been complicated by his colorblindness.

He had visited his family in Tulsa a few days before the tornado hit his apartment complex. He appeared to have a new peace about his direction in life.

"This past year was one of trying to figure it out - where he fit in the scheme of things," said his stepmother Nancy Gomez Keithline. "All of us had the same experience... like something had been settled for him."

Rusty Keithline had been an Eagle Scout, and his father served as his scoutmaster. He and his father enjoyed canoeing and sailing together.

His family joined his friends and co-workers in bragging on him, too.

"He was such a good man and a loving son," said Sandy Kane, his mother. "I am so blessed that I had 24 years to have him in my life. I never could have asked to have a son who was better than he was."

- Richard Tortorelli