ART LEWIS 1967 - 1986 STATION AGENT, PRESIDENT'S ASSISTANT MKC DEN MCI On page 13 of the newsletter it shows a business card for Art Lewis. Any info on Art? I believe I hired Art as a station agent and he later became one of the inflight President's Assistants. Quite a story involved in his hiring. -Kerry Allen (4/17/09) Would love to hear the story. I first met him in STL about 1969 when he was a PA. Art lives in MCI and he visits us most years at the FYV-FSM FL Reunion. -Jake Lamkins (4/17/09) Don't know if I'll get the sequence of events correct but here goes... It was just after the merger with Central (October 1, 1967). We were hiring agents fast and furious. H. Lee Davis was my Assistant Manager that I brought up from FLG. Lee and I had a history of when to shine shoes, when to go home and get uniforms pressed, etc. that all worked out satisfactorily. During our interview process Lee was doing some initial interviews and I was talking with some applicants on the phone. On this particular day I received a call from Art asking if I had reviewed his application and I indicated that I had. Art was somewhat apprehensive and finally let me know that he was a Baptist Minister ... I advised him that didn't make an difference to me and as a matter of fact it might aid him in his development with Frontier as it gave him experience in his dealing with people. Then he said, "I am black!" Without hesitation I ask him "...what difference does that make?" His apprehensions seemed to dissipate and we discussed at length the fact that he as a black male and that I absolutely had no reservations about that subject and that it have no bearing on his qualifications. Art came in for a interview and, as usual, Lee talked with him first and I was in the next office and could hear Lee talking to him and the conversation went something very much like this.. "If you want to he hired, you had better go home and shine your shoes before you talk with Mr. Allen or you won't get to first base!" As I remember the situation Art returned home shined his shoes and returned. Art was, according to my recollection, the first black employee on Frontier Arilines. We hired him for a Station Agent's position. I'm sure you remember it included air freight, ramp, ticket agents, passsenger service (all of it) at that time. He was a very conscientious and loyal employee. I was proud to have him as a fellow worker. He was interviewed and accepted as a President's Assistant and the reports I recived is that he did a very credible job in that position. I lost track of Art from that point one. I hope that his life has been very successful. I was proud to call him a friend. -Kerry Allen (4/24/11) A M LEWIS Station agent seniority date of 5/17/68 on the 1/1/86 FL/ALEA seniority list. He lost some seniority while in the PA program. He returned to MKC as a station agent when the PA program was terminated. -Jake Lamkins (4/24/09) I spoke to Art on the phone about 10 minutes. He said his memory has gotten bad and he can't remember any dates or how long he was in the PA program. He said he did lose some seniority while in the program. He's 79 now and was a station agent all the time in MKC/MCI after the PA job. His health prevents attending the reunions anymore. -Jake Lamkins (6/20/09) Art mailed me several business cards and a FL bag tag with his name on it. A short note said "Hope to see you soon." -Jake Lamkins (8/3/09) I wanted to let you know that Arthur Lewis Jr, passed away on July 20, 2011. Ella Mae Canady called us with the bad news - they came to the reunion as long as Arthur was able to drive down form Kansas City. We kept in touch, Christmas cards, etc and Ella May wanted you to know about his passing. You can find his obit at www.Elitefuneralchapelservice.com. Ella sent a copy to me from the paper- we should have several pictures of Arthur from past reunions. I am not sure of the dates , but I think Arthur worked for FL several years. The obit says he was a pilot but I dont know if that part is true - I thought he was a grunt like the rest of us. -Jack Chambers (8/8/11) OBITUARY Arthur M. Lewis Arthur was born August 6, 1929 in Topeka, KS. He passed away on July 20, 2011 at the age of 81 yrs. Arthur served in the U.S. Air Force and there subsequently retired. Arthur as well worked for Frontier Airlines as a commercial pilot, then going to U.S. Air, afterward retiring from TWA. From there he paved his path through the ministry. Arthur was active in the community and the 3rd district in Kansas City, Missouri. He was also involved with the Kansas City, Missouri School District until he progressed in age. He leaves to cherish his memories; Son: Gabriel Lewis, Daughters: Aleta McGary, Kim Dailey, and Teresa McGray. Son-in-law Leslie Dailey, two brothers: James and Walter Lewis, two sisters: Geraldine Williams and Geneva Lewis. Grandchildren: Mario McGary, Kendrick Shaw, Essence Lewis , Xavior Lewis, Jabriel Lewis, Rashad Lewis, Gabrielle Lewis, Morgan Miller and an abundant host of both friends and relatives. Graveside Service will be held on Friday, July 29, 2011. Service at 2:00 PM at Forest Hill Cemetery 6901 Troost Ave. Kansas City MO 64131-1510 816-523-2114 -Elite Funeral Home (8/8/11) OBITUARY Arthur M. Lewis, 81, passed away July 20, 2011. He served in the US Air Force. Graveside service at 2 p.m. Friday, at Forest Hill Cemetery, 6901 Troost Ave., KCMO. Arr.: Elite Funeral Chapel, 11525 Blue Ridge Blvd., KCMO 64134 (816) 765-0141. -Kansas City Star on July 29, 2011 (8/8/11) Art was a MKC/MCI station agent 1967-86 but was a President's Assistant around 1969 for a year or so until the program was discontinued. His family who put the obtuary together must have confused flying as a PA with being a pilot. I met Art when he was a PA and knew him over the years. Then he started coming to the FYV FSM Reunions about ten years ago. He was a very personable person who was always interesting to talk to. It was always a pleasure to see him at our reunions. -Jake Lamkins (8/8/11) Art was a gate agent at MKC when I started in early 1970. Not sure how long he was there before me. What a great guy! Always smiling and always willing to help, especially a new guy like me. We had many enjoyable dinners together and it was always a pleasure working with Art. -Tom Schmidt (8/9/11) I worked with Art when I was Part Time Agent at Frontier filling in for Ken Mast, while he was so sick in 1985. Art was a tremendous asset and I so enjoyed working with him. There just wasn't another person with such a pleasing personality as Art. He will be Missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Art Lewis family. -Ken Edmondson (8/9/11) I hired Art Lewis at MKCOO. He was the first black to be hired in the class and craft at FAL. I was super impressed with him at my interview and recommended him to be a President's Assistant on the B727 at which he was successful. Like the others I found him to be very affable and did well with the traveling public. I remember in talking with him on the telephone when he called in for an interview, he said " I am a black man and I am a Baptist Minister". I answered him saying "..that doesn't make any difference, come on in for an interview". He was concerned that we wouldn't talk to him because of his race. I was proud of him and his accomplishments. Lee Davis was my Assistant Manager and did a fabulous job of training. I too take the opportunity of offering my heart felt feelings to his family for their loss. -Kerry Allen (8/9/11)