Foil: 14 Panel: Retired United Pilots Association Column: 3 Line: 83

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Captain Simeon Dean Stidham, Jr. was born in Bartow, Florida on October 18, 1939. His family lived off the end of a runway near Lake Wales, Florida airport. This proximity inspired a love of aviation which led him to join the Civil Air Patrol during his high school years in Winter Haven, Florida... His actual first ride in an airplane was with a family friend in a Taylorcraft at age 15. This was a gift arranged by his mother to "shut Sim up about flying".
Sim soloed in an Aeronca 7 AC in 1961 as part of the USAF-ROTC program at the Florida State University. Sim Entered the Air Force in March of 1962, training as a Ground Control Intercept Director. He picked up his Commercial and Flight Instructor ratings through the Air Force Aero Clubs. Upon separation from the Air Force, Sim was hired by Holiday Aviation (Horizon Aviation) where he instructed and flew charters for the Lynchburg, Virginia Piper Dealer.
While flying for Holiday Aviation (Horizon) Sim built flying hours and gained his Multi-engine and Instrument ratings. With 1700+ hours, he was hired by United Airlines (UAL) on February 20, 1967.
Sim completed his UAL training in Denver Colorado as a DC6 engineer in May of 1967. He flew Flight engineer for approximately 10 years on DC6s, B727s, and DC8s. Under the GI Bill, Sim attained his Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) rating with DC3 and Lear Jet certification.
He flew as UAL co-pilot for another 10 years in B737s and B737s before checking out as Captain on the B737. In his last 12 years, Sim flew B737-200s,-300s, and -500s; B757s; B767s and B777s. Sim flew his last flight from Paris, France to Washington Dulles International in October, 1999, ending a 32+ year career with United Airlines.