IRA KEMP 1953 - 1963 STATION AGENT FMN INW PHX I was a station agent in PHX. Started at FMN tfrd to PHX then went into the Army. Did my time and returned first working at INW and then again tfrd to PHX. Got there just in time to register for college and meet my wife. Eventually graduated from ASU in 1960 and worked on a masters. Worked and went to school full time and thanks to the shifts we had, I was able to spend time studying on graveyards and swing shifts. Also had lots of help and support from the great people I worked with. Have many stories that I can tell about those days and my experiences served me well in my future career as I sure learned how to deal with people, problems and chaos. Left FAL to go to work for the AF as a management intern. Worked at Norton AFB CA, moved to Wright Patterson AFB in OH, then to Warner Robbins AFB in GA, back to WPAFB and then against my will I was dragged to the Pentagon. Based upon a lot of luck and a little talent I kept getting promoted and became the senior civilian in AF contracting. Had six different titles but essentially did the same job. I'm not trying to impress, but my last position title was Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary, Contracting, USAF {its really a lot longer}. It was a great job and spent my last 20 years doing it , and loved it. Did some good things for the AF and the USA, got a few medals and awards and retired when I was worn out. Consulted on contracting for three years and then really retired. Been married to the same woman for 52 years and now I'm getting old and decrepit like everbody else. -Ira Kemp (11/3/10) I. L. KEMP Station agent seniority date of 6/8/53, ML 4/25/54, per the 11/1/55 Station Personnel System Seniority List. He's also listed on the 3/1/62 FL/ALEA seniority list. -Jake Lamkins (11/4/10) Re Rex Marble I have memories of Rex as a good guy. First met him in early 1956 when I came back to FAL after my service in the Army. Assigned to INW, people in DEN told me to seek out Rex when I got there as he could provide temporary quarters until I could make housing arrangements. He and his wife were kind and considerate and owned and ran the Marble Motel on the east side of town on old Route 66. He was a mother hen type of guy who wanted things done right, loyal to the company and a good agent. Only worked with him for about 5 months when I transferred to PHX, but I trusted him and he earned my respect. Ira Kemp FAL 1953-63 (6/5/11) Subject: Bob Pier I have fond memories of Bob. After completing my agent training in DEN in early 1953 I was assigned to FMN. Looking for a place to live it was recommended that I talk to Bob who as well as being an agent managed an old home that had rooms to rent. It was a sad looking place but one couldn't be very picky in 1953 FMN. I believe nine of us lived in the house and while people came and went almost all worked for Frontier. Frankly, the place was a three ring circus and Bob was the ringmaster who tried to maintain order in the midst of chaos. Among those who lived there were Charlie Southerland, Gerry Bacon and my friend and roommate Fletcher Huskey [when he was a humble agent]. In his soft spoken way Bob made sure we kept the place reasonably clean, oversaw our group dinner, made sure we worked in our very sad vegetable garden out back and generally refereed when we were close to killing each other. Bob became a good friend, and to my recollection without exception everyone truly respected him. -Ira Kemp (7/22/11) It has been over 50 years since I last saw Charley Southerland, but I have always remembered him as a good friend and a great guy. I have attached two photos, one includes Charley when we all lived together in Farmington. The other is for your archive, of a group of us in Phoenix a long ago. The quality is not great since I had to enlarge the from small prints that have been laying in my photo album for a very long time. -Ira Kemp (3/31/14) I'm forwarding this information to you about the death of Ira Kemp. He was based in Phoenix all the years I knew him, and was here on the day I arrived in Phoenix 10-5-57. His wife did not put "details" about his years with FL, so hope you have something there once you post it, maybe someone out there will have some more information for you. Ira Kemp obit http://m.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?n=ira-kemp&pid=186776044&referrer=0&preview=True -Ginger Treptow (10/4/17) Thanks for letting me know about Ira. -Jake Lamkins (10/4/17) I L KEMP PHX station agent DOB 3/31/34 DOH 6/8/53 Notation says Ira per the Feb 1960 Frontier Roster. He's not shown on the Nov 1955 system roster - probably because he was in the army then. Nor is he shown in the 10th anniversary list for Jun 1963 so he left early in the year. -Jake Lamkins (10/9/17) FLacebook - FL Club FLight West: Ira Kemp PHX station agent Ira Kemp's memorial webpage is posted at http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Ira_Kemp.html Ira worked at Frontier 1953 - 1963 then had an illustrious career as an Air Force civilian. Post your remembrances of him. -Jake Lamkins (10/11/17) Great job Jake, I touched base with Ira at different times during the year, but not lately.Sorry I didn't do better, as he was a real nice person, and made me feel welcome when I arrived in Phoenix. I've spoken to his wife Fran twice and we have exchanged Cell phone numbers and also E-mail addresses. I'll do better at keeping in touch with her. She is also a beautiful lady with a smile in her voice. Thanks again for the great posting. May He Rest In Peace. -Ginger Treptow (10/12/17)