Neil died September 9, 2022. He came from a Methow Valley pioneer family and was born at home in Winthrop, Washington. His brother, Danny (NCSB-51) was also a jumper. Neil graduated from Winthrop H.S. in 1946 and went on to Washington State College in 1951 earning a teacher’s degree. Neil enlisted in the USAF pilot program, but after the death of his father, he was released from duty. He did graduate work at Washington State Collage and a full year National Science Foundation scholarship at Oregon State College. Upon completion taught at Omak, Washington.

Neil taught at various eastern Washington schools and spent 27 years teaching math, science, and computer science at both junior and senior high school and was a junior high principal for six years retiring in 1986. Neil jumped at NCSB 1950.