DUANE PHELPS 1949 - 1985 STATION AGENT, STEWARD, SENIOR STATION AGENT, STATION MANAGER ALS LAR RIW SLC GJT 36 years with FL, retired June 1,1985. Started in ALS June 12,1949, to GJT in Nov 49, flew steward GJT/ABQ RT 3 days a week. Transfer to SLC as Sr. Agt. Feb. 51, to Stn Mgr LAR Feb. 53, to Stn. Mgr. RIW Nov.58, to Stn Mgr SLC May 64, and Stn Mgr GJT Oct 1977. Will send more info about the good times later on. -Duane Phelps (7/8/05) I Remember When: By Duane Phelps 1949-1985 (36 years) Hired 6/49 Stn. Agt. Alamosa for $150 per mo.,6 day wk,8 hr. shifts. Capt. Geo. Meshko flew me to Pueblo in an open cockpit PT-19 to Watch the Blue Angels in prop F8 aircraft. (Better than Jets) Capt. Army Armstrong arrived early came into the Stn. Tuned the radio To HF Freq. Had me listen to an ATC Clearance, and told me I had better Be able to recite a clearance the next time he came thru. Jim Montgomery,Dir. Of Stns. Called Mgr. Stamey to fire both agents Tom McAfee and myself for visiting on the teletype for 20 mins. The Day before as all msgs went to all teletypes, we apologized and stayed on. Using the Official Airline Guide foo Schedules and Fares over our local Stn. Phone and teletype for reservations was an awesome experience. Transferred to Grand Junction Nov.49 and flew Steward 3days a wk. RT GJT/ABQsometimes missed conn. In Durango so onto DEN with RON At the Argonaut Hotel. Rode observer with Geo. Graham and Glen Gettman Practicing under hood at Stapelton, both became Capts. On my second FIt. I went to the cockpit and asked if it was true that the Pilots and stews sometimes shared the same bed and was told of coarse, That CO and TW stews were even waiting in their rooms on layover in ABQ. It took me a little while to realize how my leg had been pulled by the best Two pullers on the airline, Art Ashworth and Ace Avakian. Jim Montgomery sent me a message in Sept. 50 to report to SLC to replace Tom Makurat who had been drafted. Lou Berets was the Stn. Mgr. And Red Davis, Regional Mgr. The Stn. Was open 24 Hrs. and that lIP to 7A shift every 4 wks. Was tough to adjust too. Red Davis,Dex Alger and Scott Keller were Very close employee friends. Lou sent me to my first Stn.Mgr. Meeting in BIL, I only missed one Mgr. Meeting in 33 yrs. Feb. 1953 I was awarded Stn. Mgr. At Laramie WY. Ray Spiars,Paul McClure, Jim Snider, and John Chapel were agents that worked in LAR to continue their college classes at the Univ. of Wyo. Our small terminal building was owned by FL, John & I were painting the wood shingles, he slipped off breaking his heel bone, but soon back to work in a walking cast. Runway lights were Flush with the ground, I had to sweep them off with a broom many times to Get the evening fIts. In. We had to drive our cars out to the airplane to install Control locks so they could taxi in due to high wind and back out to remove For takeoff. United Vice-Pres. in DEN would invite us FL mgrs. To sit in on their Daily briefing concerning the previous days operation for the entire UA system. The Conquistadores (all the airline and airplane mfg. Presidents) would come to a Dude Ranch in Saratoga WY. Each yr. We would drive rental cars from LAR to them. Met C. R.Smith AA, Bob Six CO, W. A. Patterson UA, and Donald Douglas. I received a Gold Pen from W. A. Patterson for assisting a UA accident in Snowy Range outside LAR in 1955. I won a trip to Europe on Sabena Airlines in 1957 for a story ! submitted. Lois and I spent 15 days and 7 cities at age 27. 1958 to Riverton WY. Stn. Mgr. $375 per mo. We had 3 way connection of fits. Twice a day. Harold Long, Gary McCarrel, and Homer Cauthon were Sr. Agts. And a great crew that worked split shifts for many years. We moved into a new terminal in 1959, two yrs. Later someone left a cigarette and half the building burned at night, we continued flights, but the smell was not pleasant. Transferred to SLC Stn. Mgr. May 1964. We had a UA DC-3 with a small cargo door on the opposite side, I was to show the agents how to latch it, did not do it right and we had 7 bags fall out on the runway at 80 MPH when FIt. Returned. Luckily we did not lose any mail pouches. We had previous Mgrs. Come to Work in SLC, Gordon Bost, Geo. Hobbs, Clay Tanner, and Geo. Slivka. Don Anderton was Asst. Mgr, Gary McCarrel, Stan Covington,Dean Buethe, and Don Halterman were Sr. Agts. Maint.,Stewardess, and Pilots were based in SLC. We had many fog problems usually around the Holidays, created severe Problems attempting to work Fits. At Ogden Airport. The AL Feldman years were the best for the employees and the Airline and he Will never be forgotten by most of us that knew him personally. -Duane Phelps (2/6/06) H D Phelps Seniority date 6/12/49 per FL system seniority list dated 11/1/55 -Jake Lamkins (2/6/06) The 2006 GJT Reunion went great !!! There were 5 or 6 people there because they had seen the notice in either the Frontier News or the FAL web site. Thanks to you. I'll give you the details, and of course, you can pick and choose what you want to include. The weather cooperated, and there was lots of shade, drinks and food. We had BBQ chicken and pork, potato salad, baked beans, spicy pinto beans, cole slaw, rolls and butter, and two special sheet cakes. The first one had a picture of a FAL DC-3 and the date 6-01-1950, the second one had a picture of a FAL B737 and the date 8-24-1986. There were a total of 58 present, including employees, spouse, a few children and even a couple of grand-children. Those attending from GJTOO were Les (& wife Mae) Bendickson, Arnie (Donna) Bruns, Floyd (Marie) Eicher (from CA), Bob (Pat) Flatten, Jess Heidrich, Bill (Bonnie) Hofferber, Darrell (Hazel) Jones, Lyle (Barb) Kohs (MT), Jack (Sarah) Latta (TX), Buzz (Donna) Oliver, Duane (Lois) Phelps, Lee Sigwart, Ted (Donna) Simmons (TX), Larry Sumner (AZ), Verla Travis (widow of Bud Travis), Walt (Betty) Vanderpool (UT), and Jim (Barbara) Wilds. Part of what made it special were the guests from outside of GJTOO. They were Bill Barreith (SLCMM), Capt & Mrs Gary Blanchard, Dave (Sheila) Bottinelli (DEN Acctng), Marge (Jim) DuBois (DENRR), Capt & Mrs Leo Dorsey, Janamarie (John) Dugle (Flt Attndt), Bob Pearson (Relief Agt) who came in from ME, Dewey Penley (MTJOO) and Capt Billy Watkins. -Jim Wilds (8/23/06) Don Anderton just called me to say that Duanes Phelp's wife Lois died Monday. She had suffered from cancer. Her and Duane had been married for 55 years. She was a delightful person. Paul Farris (4/9/08) Thank you for the great service you are providing. I cannot wait to read "Frontier News" when it arrives. Here is my money for the next two years and a little extra for whatever need. I was with FL 39 years and will be 80 in Feb, 2010. Have been to every SLC reunion. Best Regards, -Duane Phelps (11/18/09) Some of those attending the SLC Reunion were pilots Tex Searle, Dave Rampton, John Iverson, Jack Schade, Ike Isaacs, Dave Wabel, Al Harris, Gary Winn, Joe Ferguson, Jack Robins, Bob Bagshaw and Al Kendell. Flight attendants Gail Fischel and Mary Weil. Station folks Mary Lynn Doyle, Carol Knudsen, Marlene Jensen, Wayne Hays, Kerry Stephens, Lee Johnson, Walt Ness, Duane Phelps, Bob Noble, Paul Farris, Ron Hill, Ron Blosch, Stan Covington, Marty Hernandez, Ron Hill, Jim Langford, Don Anderton, and Don Halterman. -Stan Covington (7/15/11) I transferred to SLC May 1,1964, 1st 580 came thru on June 1, and never quit until all jets. We had eight 580 non-stop DEN-SLC-DEN during UA & WA srtike in Jul 1966. -Duane Phelps (8/6/11) Keep the hard copy (of the FL News) coming to me. This guy does not do that well on the computer. Thank you for all you do, and even mention my name once in a while. My daughter works for Skywest (1600 departures a day) but I will not try space available anymore. -Duane Phelps (1/17/12) FLacebook: Duane Phelps was 85 years old today. -Jake Lamkins (2/24/15) FLacebook I heard station manager Duane Phelps flew west last month. Does anyone have any info? -Jake Lamkins (1/21/16) I found an obituary online for him. He passed on December 20th. Rest in peace Duane. -Tom Schmidt (1/21/16) What a warm person Duane was not to mention a great sense of humour... too sad -John Friess (1/21/16) Sorry to hear about Duane. He was one of the good guys - a great mentor -Joe Barker (1/21/16) H D PHELPS LAR station manager Per the Nov 1955 FL Roster. H D PHELPS RIW station manager Notation says Duane DOB 2/24/30 DOH 6/12/49 Per the Feb 1960 FL Roster. -Jake Lamkins (1/21/16) The GJT news paper had Duane's Obituary in late December, 2015 which confirmed he passed on December 20. I last saw Duane a couple of years ago. Duane was an incredible individual with a great sense of humor and we enjoyed many times together at manager meetings. He will be missed. -Larry Scofield (1/21/16) It was a privilege to know you Duane. I was always glad when we had to attend manager meetings together. No one could lift a person's spirits like you. The minute you entered the room everyone was instantly in a better mood. I sometimes thought that you and I should have taken our comedy routine on the road. I remember when we had a meeting in Kalispell in 1981. We went to dinner and I was at one end of the table and you were at the other end. You told a joke then I told one. You told a joke then I told another. This went on all night and we had the entire table laughing so hard they were crying. I don't think we had much to eat. We were too busy entertaining. I also remember how great it was to have you attend my and Dian's wedding at Swan Lake. You were a great friend. I wish we could have spent more time together. Rest in peace. -Tom Schmidt (1/22/16) Thank you Tom for your kind words. We love the stories of him. He was a great Dad and always the life of the party. -Kim Phelps Bradshaw (1/22/16) You are welcome Kim. Your father was so special to so many people. He and I connected the first time we met. We were alike in so many ways. He helped me be a better manager. He always was there when anyone needed his help. God bless him and your family. -Tom Schmidt (1/22/16) Recently, I talked to Kimberly Bradshaw that her dad passed away last December. She lived in Salt Lake Cityand I don't know if she is going to print obituary of Duane Phelps. She works for SkyWest in SLC and Iwill contact her for more info thru my SkyWest email. He was 85 year old and I really don't know if there will be a funeral or not in GJT. -Dave Bottinelli (1/22/16) Rest in peace Duane Phelps. Here is a photo from my wedding in 1982 of me with the Frontier Airlines employees that made the trip to Swan Lake, Montana. Duane is standing directly behind me. I will miss your great sense of humor and also your kindness. -Tom Schmidt (1/22/16) Will always remember Duane when he would answer the FL hotline. He would always say "This is Duane in Salt Lake." Just the way he said it was amusing. Sorry to hear of his passing. -Mike White (1/23/16) I have many, many fond memories of Duane - a true one-of-a-kind guy. I visited with him recently in Grand Junction, and we laughed for 2 hours straight sharing great stories of our days with Frontier Airlines. I've attached a photo with Duane taken at the 2008 SLC Frontier reunion. RIP my good friend. -Howard Schatz (1/23/16) FLacebook - FL Club FLight West: Duane Phelps SLC GJT station manager Duane Phelp's memorial webpage is posted: http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Duane_Phelps.html Duane's career spanned the years 1949 - 1985. -Jake Lamkins (1/26/16)