BOB RICH 1948 - 1980 PILOT, CHIEF PILOT PHX DEN There is a set of wings and business cards on ebay with the name R E Rich. Anyone have any info on this Frontier captain. -Ron Abfalter (10/8/02) Sounds like Bob Rich. He retired in about 80 or so and went to live on the Big Island of Hawaii. He wore heavy black rimmed glasses, was a chain smoker, bald and a nice guy. Haven't heard anything about him since he retired. Sorry I can't offer more. What is the deal with the e-bay ad? -Beetle Bailey (10/8/02) Bob Rich is in an assisted living home here in Denver, CO. His address is; 10200 E. Harvard Ave #346 Denver, CO 80231. His phone number is 303 337 7372. I'm sure he'd love to hear from you. -Ace Avakian (10/8/02) Posted at FL Club: Bob Rich's stuff stayed in the FLamily. Ron Abfalter was high bidder at $155! Way to go, Ron! -Jake Lamkins (10/10/02) Ace, thanks for your help in finding Bob Rich. I had a most enjoyable talk with him. It turns out he was raised about 14 miles from where I was. I am honored to hang onto his wings for a while. -Ron Abfalter (10/11/02) Check GOLDEN AGE OF FLYING book (10/20/04) Bob retired Jul. 24, 1980 with 32 years per the October 1980 FL NEWS. -Jake Lamkins (11/28/04) As promised, here is the information on where the name Frontier came from. Over the years we talk about our beloved airline and of that great era that ended so suddenly. The lasting friendships that came about, the great memories there for us to dwell on—memories that carry us through the day. Indeed, it certainly was the Golden Years of flying, and Frontier made it happen. This letter alludes to an era of the DC-3s, and two of the Challenger pilots of that time period who flew them. It was early Spring of 1950, much talk was in the air, there was to be a merger of Challenger, Arizona Airways and Monarch. The Two Challenger pilots conversed of names that might be a desirable fit for the merger. A name suggestive of the mail and passenger flights into the pristine empire of the Rocky Mountains, and that part of the country it would be blazing. When pondering the various titles that would be appropriate, the name Frontier popped up. Bingo! It would be a perfect fit. The name Frontier Airlines was submitted to the hierarchy in Denver. When the merger had taken place, Frontier Airlines was the accepted name. The two pilots in this story are Captain Bob Rich and Chief Pilot Scott Keller, who incidentally were never given due credit by the company for the appropriate name of Frontier Airlines. So now you know. -Tex Searle (8/18/05) Received word this morning that Bob Rich fell...broke a leg, etc and lungs filling with fluid, etc. and complications set in and he is not expected to live very long. He is in ICU and has refused artificial means of survival, etc. All we can do is Pray. -Ace Avakian (5/7/09) R E RICH Pilot seniority date of 6/30/48 on the 9/1/72 FL/ALPA seniority list. -Jake Lamkins (5/7/09) I see in on the FL Club website that Bob Rich is doing badly. A few years ago I bought wings, a service pin and an shoulder bar on Ebay. They came with cards belonging to R E Rich, Chief Pilot, Phoenix Az. All with the old crescent logo. I got in contact with Ace and he gave me Bob's number at the nursing home as I was wondering how they ended up in northern Michigan. Seems Bob was from just a few miles of where I grew up and currently live. I still have the wings and bar with card on my desk. My thoughts are with Bob and hope for the best. -Ron Abfalter (5/9/09) Regretfully to inform you of the Gone West of Capt Robert E. Rich...last night at approx 2300 MDT 5/18/09. No other information at this time. Regretfully, -Ace Avakian (Forwarded to FL Club) (5/19/09) I reckon we knew this was coming. Still, it is a sad day. I liked flying with Bob - he was always a gentleman and an excellent pilot. -Billy Walker (5/19/09) OBITUARY Robert E. Rich passed away on May 18, 2009. He is survived by his children, Robin, Patrick and Susan; granddaughter, Heather; grandsons, David, Chris and Michael; and great granddaughters, Riley, Madison and Lauren. Robert was a WWII Veteran and a Retired Airline Captain for Frontier Airlines. In lieu of flowers, memorials in his Honor may go to the American Diabetes Association , www.diabetes.org. To share a fond memory of Robert, please visit. www.MEM.com -Denver Post on 5/22/2009 BIOGRAPHY Mr Robert (Bob) E. Rich Born July 24, 1920 Died May 18, 2009 Robert E. Rich died on May 18, 2009 with his family by his side. Arrangements under the direction of Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary & Cemetery in Littleton, CO. Robert Rich (Bob) was born on July 24, 1920. He grew up in Holland,MI where he adored his family. He then enlisted into the Army Air Corp and became a terrific fighter pilot and a trainer. After the military he flew for many types of airlines such as Challenger but his true passion was flying for Frontier Airlines. He retired in 1980 from Frontier. After retirement he moved to Hawaii and lived a beautiful tropical life until 1991. At that time he moved back to Colorado to be near his family. Bob lived a life that many would dream of. He succeeded in everything and the word "NO" was never in his vocabulary. He was a dreamer and his dreams did come true. May he rest with the skies now and fly to the places he was never able to fly to. He was a remarkable man and not one easily forgotten. There is so much to his story that I am hoping some of you flyers who flew with him can share your stories. He loved the skies and now he is there again. May we all live the way Bob did. I love you Grandpa! -http://www.mem.com/Story.aspx?ID=3018538 (5/22/09) A story about Bob Rich: I was the co-pilot on the overnight to Billings, MT. We got in early and went out to dinner. Many of you would remember the place where they had the tail of an airplane sticking out from the outside wall. We decided to have a beer before dinner and sat at the bar. So happens there were two cowboys at the bar, well over 6 feet & 220 lbs. Somehow the conversation got heated. I kept telling Bob to tone down and let's go to our table. Bob would have none of it. I kept telling him that the two cowboys were going to kill us. As you know, Bob had a fiery temper and it was all I could do to get us away from those cowboys before they killed us. I consider that one of my close calls with Bob. We flew many times together, a great guy, but don't stir him up. -Bob Ashby (10/5/09)