Born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1948, Randall (Randy) Schuermann grew up in Normandy, a suburb in close proximity to Lambert St. Louis Airport. His father had begun flight training as a navy cadet in 1942 at Smartt Field in St. Charles, Missouri, but a physical limitation prevented him from continuing after about 30 flight hours. Perhaps following in his father's footsteps Randy became interested in aviation in elementary school. His first flight was in 1953 at the age of eight when his family vacationed in Florida, flying there on an Eastern DC-7 and returning on an Eastern Connie.
Randy attended Oklahoma State University where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree. He earned his private, commercial, instrument, multi engine, instrument ground instructor, and CFI, along with a sea plane rating while both attending and teaching at OSU. He also worked for the flight department flying guests and personnel. During his junior year, a Navy recruiter came to the airport and convinced Randy he should apply for naval flight training, rather than face being drafted. After clearing the initial physical, he was sent for an additional test which deemed him not "physically qualified for flight in jet aircraft at altitude" - due to a rare blood quirk. He graduated in 1970 with a BS in Trade & Industrial Education and life time teaching certificates in Missouri and Oklahoma.
Randy flew corporate for Missouri Pacific Railroad and later as Chief Pilot for Midvale Dental Supply Company where he also used his design background to do dental office design and equipment sales.
Randy was hired by Ozark Airlines in December of 1978, where he flew the Fairchild FH227 and DC-9. He was furloughed three times, but after recall to the DC9 and following the TWA acquisition of Ozark Randy remained a First Officer until upgrading to Captain in February of 1997. He later flew Captain on the MD80 at both TWA and American. In 2005 he checked out as Captain on the B757/B767 where he remained until retiring in September of 2013 at age 65 with over 21,000 hours of flight time, just short of 35 years in the airline industry, and having flown over 40 different aircraft.
The flying tradition continues in his family. Randy’s wife, daughter, two step-sons, and son-in-law are in the aviation industry as well.