In the summer of 1935, when I was 14 years old, Al and Fred Key established the world
endurance record for an airplane in flight. The public was invited to see them in
Meridian, Mississippi, and my dad took the entire family. Surprisingly, he paid $5.00 for
me to have a short flight. I was not afraid or apprehensive but had a feeling of freedom. It
felt like a dream. It was at that time that I set my goal for a career in aviation.
I completed basic training in the Marine Corp in 1941, and I was transferred to the North
Pacific. After one year's combat duty, my request to be transferred to the 3rd Marine Air
Wing was agreed to by the Marine Corp Commandant.
In August 1945,I was returning from a cross-country solo flight to western Texas, and I
heard noises below - church bells, fire engines. After landing, I was told that WWII was
over! After the post flight, I boarded a bus for town, where the church doors were open, I
went inside and I knelt to pray to thank God that the war was over.
In the spring of 1946,I boarded an aircraft carrier at San Diego for the South Pacific with
the aircraft squadron to assist in the first peacetime "A" Bomb test. After this operation, I
was assigned back to the 3rd Marine Air Wing with duties with the R-5D. Later I was
assigned to fly the Pacific routes, where we flew equipment and supplies from Japan to
Korea.
After completing twenty-one years of military service, I moved to south Florida with my
family and began to work in general aviation. I purchased a Cessna 172P and formed
GTE Leasing as owner, pilot and A&P.
A quote that has been very meaningful to me is by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519):
"When once you have tasted flight, you will always walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward; for there you have been and there you will always be."