NELSON EMBLETON 1952 - 1986 CN/FL PURSER, CHIEF PURSER, TELETYPE OPERATOR, DISPATCHER SAT FTW GSW DEN Hi Nelson, I was just going thru a Sep 1964 CN newsletter which had a great article by Harry Logsdon on CN's 15th anniversary. He mentioned that you had been a purser in the early days. I don't think I knew you started with CN. When was that, anyway. When did you switch to dispatch? Hope you're well. -Jake Lamkins (5/25/04) Dear Jake: Would love to have a copy of Harry's article. Yes. I joined Central in January 1951 as a purser. My first assignment was in San Antonio as a relief purser and office assistant to Jim Fincher who ran the Military charters Central flew with leased C-46's. I came back to Ft. Worth and flew as a regular passenger type purser and finally made Chief Purser . I went into dispatch in January 1954 after Central went to stewardesses. Most of the other pursers went to work in the stations as agents. Pete Jones came into dispatch later in the year and a couple of other pursers got in their time and hired on as F/O's -Nelson Embleton (5/26/04) G NELSON EMBLETON DENVER CO, age 75 -US Search (8/6/04) Started at Central Airlines in January, 1952 as a purser flying military charters with DC-3s. In the fall of 1953, Central went to stewardesses. I was offered a job as a station agent, a co-pilot (if I had a commercial pilot's license - I only had a student pilot license). I asked if I could go into Flight Dispatch if I could get that license. I worked as a teletype operator while I was studying and when I got the license I was put on the seniority list. I began dispatching in January, 1954 as number 5 on the list. Worked as a dispatcher through the acquisition by FAL and moved to Denver in January, 1968. Became the Union chairman for the dispatch group in the early 70's and was chairman through the bankruptcy. Began acting professionally in January, 1987. I have done T.V, Movies, Commercials and worked on stage. I spent 7 years doing " Perry Mason - Movies of the week. Not much going on in Denver for an old guy, but I still audition now and then. -Nelson Embleton (10/4/04) (Nelson's essay on FL's death was published in the FL newsletter.) Thank you for your heart wrenching rendition of Frontier by Nelson. It was so sad, enough to nearly bring tears, it sure pulled my heart. Nelson, thank you very much. I worked with Nelson in the operations center. Again thank you -Ben Pacheco (4/27/05) Posted at the FL Club: Nelson should have been spokesman for all of us. His oratory was always appreciated in those dark days past. However, I would take exception to his characterization as to the degree of influence he had. Nelson had a calming affect when emotions, as they often did, reached a loud crescendo. He was greatly respected by the rest of us all thrown together in the middle of the chaos. As to his disagreeing with Hank on the matter of ALPA's failure to step up with concessions of our own, I would agree with Nelson's assessment. Also, Rocky wasn't the only union leader frustrated by his national leadership. It was a near disaster for us when ALPA's attorney placed national interest above FAL-ALPA during a side-bar session with CAL negotiators. Continental walked and we lost much of our bargaining position. Looking back I recall the Frontier pilots having not only stepped up to the bar, but trying desperately to convince Ryland to keep our CV-580 feeder fleet operating (or replace them with newer more efficient airplanes coming on the market). Additionally, we offered to fly the Convairs under a separate contract. Ryland was NOT the man of the hour. He decided to scrap our feeder system and then tried competing head-to-head with UAL and CAL. We, in our little 737's, VS the wide-body intercontinental DC-10's. When I mentioned to Ryland that we would have a tough time westbound in the winter without technical stops for fuel, he assured me that it would work fine. Right! Soon after, the coalition approached the O'Niels to plead our case. We succeeded in ridding ourselves of Mr. Ryland, but suddenly all roads led to liquidation. Hank Lund was a refreshing change, but alias too much damage had already occurred by the time Hank took over. Gawd! What a roller coaster ride all that was. Thanks Nelson, I wish you the best always. -Billy Walker (5/29/05) Sorry I haven’t been in touch as much as I wanted to be. I plead extenuating circumstances. Just this last week, I returned home from a month long stay in the hospital and a rehab center. I have, for years, suffered from restricted blood flow in my legs. (The result of smoking for 60 years and getting my arteries plugged up.) Anyway, I was given an ultimatum by the doctor. “Quit smoking - NOW and get an operation to replace the arteries in my leg - or, Lose the leg and foot altogether. Angioplasty would not work. The plaque was too severe and would not allow the balloon catheter to go into the artery. The doctor thought, and rightly as it turned out, that the best bet was an artificial artery that was grafted around the plugged up parts. The operation was sucessful and blood is now flowing to my foot, ankle and calf. The incisions are still sore and I have had to learn how to sit, stand and move around all over again just like a baby. With the aid of a cane I can get from the bedroom to the kitchen and den area. And have been able to fix meals for us on the days my wife has to go to work. Enough of my sad story - - - I really want to re-subscribe to the FRONTIER News. Enclosed is my check and best wishes to you and keep up the good work! Regards, as always -Nelson Embleton (6/20/05) Just a short note to let you know that I am still alive, and to thank you for your efforts to keep us old folks up to date on what is going on. I’m still having some health problems but the situation can only get better. Earlier this last month ( April), I did a T.V. spot for the Colorado Lottery. A small bit but it paid well. I was one of 5 Ben Franklins and 10 George Washingtons. There was no dialogue for anyone. You just had to be rowdy if you were George, or benign and calm if you were Ben. What with costume fitting, make up and so on it was a couple of days work. What a way to make a living! Anyway, you hang in there and I’ll do my best to hang out.. -Nelson Embleton (5/17/06) Posted at the FL Club: TV star in the FLamily! The folks in DEN and possibly other parts of Colorado, can look for former FL dispatcher Nelson Embleton in the Colorado lottery commercials which feature George Washingtons and Ben Franklins. Nelson didn't say which he was so you'll have to find him. He started as a purser with CN in 1951 and by 1954 was a dispatcher where he remained until 1986. Nelson has been working as an actor since then. -Jake Lamkins (5/22/06) Note: Dear Jake, Nelson is terminal. Could be July. -Linda Embleton (6/28/07) Note to Nelson: Hello Nelson, I am so sorry to hear of your health problems. I just wanted you to know I'm rooting for you and you are in my thoughts. You were always such a rock during our FL Coalition struggles. I always appreciated all you did. I posted a note at the FL Club so all your FLriends could send get well greetings. Best wishes, -Jake Lamkins (6/29/07) Posted at the FL Club Dispatcher Nelson Embleton seriously ill Nelson's wife sent a note that Nelson was "terminal" but gave no details. His career ran from 1952-1986 and he was the TWU rep on the FL Coalition. He was a purser and teletype operator before becoming a dispatcher. He would love to hear from his FLriends at this time. Nelson Embleton 8762 E. Eastman Pl. Denver, CO 80231 303-745-0633 -Jake Lamkins (6/29/07) With regret to inform you of the Gone West of Flight Dispatcher: Nelson Embleton 7-1-07. Services will be held here in Denver, Colorado on Saturday, July7 at 1200 MDT at the Mormon Church located at Yale and Monaco. Regretfuly, -Ace Avakian (7/4/07) Nelson appeared in the movie THE LARAMIE PROJECT. See credits at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0257850/fullcredits His article on FL's death is at http://fal-1.tripod.com/FL_Death.html -Jake Lamkins (7/5/07) Nelson Embleton died Monday on July 2, 2007. He will be buried from the LDS Church on Saturday at 11:00am (Yale and Monaco). His daughter in law called me today to let me know. Nelson had been ill and been in the hospital and nursing home for some therapy. Nelson was the union chair for the Transportation Workers Union (TWU-Dispatch) and worked for FAL for 35 years. Nelson always said it was his temporary job…he loved acting and after Frontier did just that. He was a stand-in for Raymond Burr on the Perry Mason series and did some other commercials and other acting parts. Nelson was one of our members of the FAL Coalition during the 1980’s and represented his group very well. -Carolyn Boller (7/5/07) OBITUARY G. Nelson Embleton 1928-2007, Denver. Husband of Linda, father of Dianne, Susan, Monica, Dale, Patrick. Lover of arts and literature. Funeral Service Saturday 11 am, LDS Chapel, 2710 S. Monaco Pkwy, corner of Yale and Monaco. Interment Fairmount Cemetery. -Denver Newspaper Agency on 7/6/2007. I just came back from Nelson’s funeral service… as I would have expected from Nelson…he was buried in a pine box. As always he had the last word in a very quiet but attention getting way. I had forgotten he started out with Central Airlines. -Carolyn Boller (7/7/07) Thanks for your note in the Summer issue! We had a great attendance for the funeral! It was an hour long, didn't strain anuone! We are thankful for people like you! Heard there were some good things on the email! We thought you might like one of these (burial note). Much love and praise, -Linda Embleton & family (7/25/07 G. Nelson Embleton Dispatcher seniority date of 1-16-55 Company seniority date 1-24-52 Per dispatcher seniority lists of 1966-68. -Jake Lamkins (7/26/07) Nelson was always joking with people. His 1st a.m. when he went to work for Central before he became a dispatcher, he wrote everything on the board backward. Joe Claffy came to work and nearly had a coronary because he couldn't read the board for the day. One day Nelson was preparing for lunch, he hit his "Hard boiled egg on the corner of the desk and it wasn't Hard boiled." I am certain many others have things to add. After the old Frontier died, he went to work as an actor. Many Lotto commercials, "America's Most Wanted." He was the child molester, they caught the guy! Then he was Raymond Burr's "stand-in" and double. You can see him in the Debbie Reynolds episode. And he walked out for Raymond in the last episode. He loved it. He enjoyed meeting the actors & actresses. His last efforts was the "Laramie Project." You can see him and his name is on the credits. His last effort was in Feb, he was a Ben Franklin in a Lotto commercial. He hated the glue on his bald head. -Linda Embleton (7/27/08) The film and the theater communities are mourning the deaths of Nelson Embleton and Leo Burmester. Embleton performed at Pat Mahoney's River Tree (now Phoenix) Theatre and appeared in the HBO film "The Laramie Project." "He probably worked on more "Perry Mason" episodes than anybody except maybe Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale," Mahoney said. -John Moore column of 7/8/07 in the DENVER POST. (Sent by Linda Embleton 7/27/07) Nelson Embleton was indeed a class act as a Dispatcher, a gracious gentleman & a warm friend. -Bob Pearson (11/22/07)