IN DENVER, 1971 |
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Standing L to R -- Hutchinson, Torrey, Young, Marshall, West, Holderman, Page, Bullock, Warren, Addems, Wilber, and Hummel. Seated -- Waterman, Hodgdon, Clark, Edgerly, Kantner, Messer, Wysong, Bates, Laird and Stadlman. |
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by Paul Garber Our 44th meeting was very enjoyable, reflecting the hard work and devoted attention extended by our Reunion Chairman, Allan F. Bonnalie. Regretably, our only other Colorado Early Bird Gen. John F. Curry, was incapacitated in a nursing home. We sent him flowers and a message expressing our concern for his health and in return received from him a telegram assuring us of his appreciation and cordial best wishes for a happy reunion. Our headquarters was the Cosmopolitan Hotel in central Denver, where room 903 was assigned as "Early Bird Nest". Registration began the evening of Wednesday, October 6th when Early Bird name badges and ribbons were pinned on and a program of events given to eqch registrant. The venerable parchment book, which records members' signatures since our first reunion in 1929, was laid out and 29 signatures were added. Also, 14 wives and 17 guests signed the guest book. Registration for late-comers was continued on Thursday morning until it was announced that the busses were loading for the eagerly anticipated trip to the Air Force Academy, located near Colorado Springs, about 65 miiles south of Denver. After a short stop at the chapel, we rode over to the Officer's Club. There we gathered at the bar for a few whistle wetters, and thence to the dining hall where we were welcomed by head officers of the Academy. After a delicious luncheon, we boarded the busses arriving back at the hotel about 4:30. Shortly after 7 we began to gather in the Century Room where cocktails were served. Then came dinner at 8. Our speaker was Peter R. Buckley, an instructor-pilot on the Boeing 747 and Training Manager for United Air Lines. After explaining the extensive and thorough systems used at United's instruction center for maintaining efficiency of their piloting personnel, he showed us two films. The first was historical, starting with the earliest planes flown by United, showing the original Boeing School of Aeronautics in Oakland, California, in 1929and the second facility in Cheyenne in 1942. The second film covered the extensive equipment and facilities in the Denver Training Center, which whet our appetites for the visit on the morrow. |
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