Foil: 37 Panel: 3 Column: 1 Line: 15

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Leader

Honored by:
Mrs. Betty L. Stewart

Born in and grew up in Huntington, W. Va. In high school (1948) started hanging around a small (I thought at the time it was big) airport across the river in Chesapeake, Ohio. Started being a 'gofer', was able to get an occasional ride and loved it. Joined the Naval Reserve in 1949 and managed to make a trip to Korea. When I got back found about military flying clubs, and since I was already hooked and started lessons, Piper Cubs and Aeronca Champs. In 1951 I stayed in the reserve but headed to Marshall College, Huntington, W.Va. In sophomore year Navy Recruiters were on the campus and convinced me to join the NAVCAD program. I was not a real enthusiastic college student, so went off to Pensacola. Trained in the SNJ, P2V, and PB4Y2. One overseas tour flying the P2v and TBM. Then a tour at the training command in Corpus Christi, Texas instructing in the SNB, PBM, P5M, P2V, R4D. Left active duty stayed in the reserves and went back to college (Ohio State University). Worked as a flight instructor at OSU flying most light planes up through the Beech Queen Air, DC-3 and did some corporate flying in the Twin Beechcraft. In the summer I instructed in the T34 for the military flying club at Rickenbacker Air Force Base. After college with a degree in Air Transportation, went to work for Mohawk Airlines in their management training program. Flew their Twin Beechcraft and DC3 charter aircraft. Got real antsy with not flying regularly and went out looking at the airlines. Ended up at United and started out as a DC6 Flight Engineer. At united I flew the CV240, B737, B727, DC6, DC8, DC10, B747. I stayed in the reserves until 1975 flying the P2V (every model and version), DC4 and DC6. Flew my last flight as Captain on 18 April 1991. I did stay on as a flight engineer on the B747 for an additional 5 years and flew my final flight on 25 Mar 1996. Hung it all up at that time and have not flown an airplane since then. I loved it all, Keep Smiling