Foil: 7 Panel: 2 Column: 4 Line: 20

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. R. H. Rastall

Tom McGlothlin (October 17, 1935 – January 11, 2003) was born in Muhlenburg County, KY. The family moved to Baltimore/DC area, when he was quite young. (He must have learned/started music at a young age; he was so good at it!) He grew up to play professionally with Cowboy Copas, Don Reno/Red Smiley and others. He must have entered the AF Cadet program in 1960. I think that he was in one of the last classes of the AF Cadet program (c1. 61-F), before the AF eliminated the Cadet Program. He was in the multi-engine phase of Cadets; graduated and went on to fly the C-124. I felt that he was even greater as a musician, than as a pilot. Lots of people can be captain on big airplanes, in music, Tom was “bested” by only 2 people on earth (or, so I feel). Those two are Merle Travis and Chet Atkins.
Graduation from Cadets and the active duty that followed, Tom returned to civilian life, picked up the necessary FAA licenses and went on to seek his fortune with the non-sked Airlines: Airgo, Mark Air, Jet-Way, Emory Universal and others. In 1995, Tom was overtaken by the age of 60 and evicted from Airline flying (same thing happened to me in January of 1988). I think, after that, Tom was able to get hired by Chrysler Crop, hauling auto parts in aircraft that were owned by Chrysler (this was not “flying for hire” and covered by part 91. The “age 60” law did not apply). I think that the Chrysler job folded in 2000. From then until his death, I think that Tom worked as a professional musician. To would “play for free,” just a quick as he would for money!