KEN LARASON 1966 - 1986 PILOT DFW DEN I've been driving an 18 wheeler all over the U.S. Started working for Swift Transportation. Had to do something, so I went to school and got my class A commercial driver's license. Back on road again -Ken Larason (12/12/01) I was flying for Zantop Airlines at the time and saw a pic and said, "I have to fly for that Airline." And after banging on their door for a couple of months, they hired me. Capt. Ken Wells gave me my flight training. After I retired as a Capt. from CAL on the A-300 Airbus and B-727, I Went thru CAL's F/E school , and flew DC-10 S/O for three yrs., and when they started to park them in year 2000, I really retired then - Jan. 01, 2001. Well, after sitting around for 9 mo's, and getting bored at home I did something everyone I told thought I was nuts !! I always wanted to drive an 18 wheeler, so I went to school in TPA FL. got my class "A" CDL, and Drove for Swift Trucking, based in PHX. However, I was based in Ocala,FL.! I didn't like that as you would be gone three weeks, then only 3 days off. Not the airlines, HUH??? So now i'm driving the big rigs here in FL. At Port Manatee, and am home every night. -Ken Larason (2/19/03) KANSAS CITY LAYOVER 2007 BEST YET!! MAY 18 - 20, 2007 The layover committee checked into the Hilton - Kansas City Airport on Thursday and began preparations for the 2007 Kansas City Flight Crew Reunion/Layover. The first to show up on Friday was Bob Stone (FAL Pilot 1977-1986) who checked into the hotel at 9:30 am in time to go to breakfast with the layover committee. And, the party was on!!! By Friday evening, a good group of FLamily had checked in and we were enjoying drinks and hors d'oeuvres in the lobby/bar area. Sometime around 9 pm the party moved to the "Crew" room upstairs for more drinks, pizza, more stories and laughs. Saturday began with breakfast at 10, although I found Jim Appleby holding court with a small group in the "Crew" room about 8:30 that morning, already back at telling each other lies and war stories. By 3 Saturday afternoon, the party was in full swing again. The evening was filled with much laughter and picture taking. And, thanks to JoDelle and Laura, two huge barrels of KFC showed up. Before the evening was over we were joined in the "Crew" room by layover crews from the "new" Frontier, Midwest, American and Chautauqua Airlines …. They could not believe that after 21 years the "Old" Frontier was still so much a family and still having the time of their lives together. I think I can safely say that we did show them what an airline layover/party should be!!!! Sunday morning saw us in the restaurant for breakfast at 10 … and then hugs, kisses, hand shakes and "good-by until next year". This was probably our smallest attendance for the KC Reunion/Layover … BUT, most everyone agrees that it was probably our BEST!!!! Those attending included: Bob Stone, Steve Tidler, Jim Appleby, Laura (Jones) Colvin, Gerrie Donaldson, Lanette Duncan, Howard Logan, John Green, Mike Gadow, Rusty Lambert, "Jack" Frost, JoDelle (Davidson) Burwell, Ken Larason, Tom Hollister, Neil Miller, Terry Calkins, Dan & Grace Scantlin, B. J. Blackerby , Barb Carroll, Lisa Sachetta, Carl Lorenzen, Sue (Cahill) von Geyso, Frank von Geyso, Ron Gallop, Claudia (Morersch) Roach and Phil Stallings. The Committee - JoDelle Burwell, Lisa Sachetta, Laura Colvin, Steve Tidler and Phil Stallings - would like to thank everyone who attended and helped make this another successful reunion/layover. -Phil Stallings (5/23/07) K O LARASON Pilot seniority date of 6/25/66 on the 9/1/86 FL/ALPA seniority list. -Jake Lamkins (10/27/08) Ken O. here! Got a new address for you. Sold my house and now renting from a friend who moved to N.M for 5yrs. All is well, still driving a Semi for CCC only in FL. They also own Wille Shaw Express which you may be more familar! Only 4 miles from where I was. Nice house on a canal that goes into the Manatee River, then into Tampa Bay. Say hi to All. -Ken Larason (3/12/09) Thanks for the update and glad to hear you are well. I remember Willis Shaw and his son Bob when they flew out of FYV with us. Both were nice guys. Bob Shaw is still around here. Jake Lamkins (3/12/09) Posted at FLacebook Hi all, glad everyone liked the Pic of the CV-340 in JAC!! I flew CV-580 and B-737 in there!! That Pic was on the cover of Aviation Week 1962 I think and I was flying for Zantop Air Transport out of Ont. Cal. It was that pic that caused me to apply to FAL, and Thank God I was hired!! When I retired in 1997 from CAL as Pilot, and was going thru DC-10 S/O school, and got to thinking, What am I doing here !! Cause it seemed so hard to teach this old Dog a new trick! HA! Anyway I put that pic on the bulliten board, with that same caption!! It got a lot of comment!! And some laughs, and some " I wish I'd done that" So to all that flew in to JAC I miss you guys, Gals, and the flying! And the simpler times. Hope I can make it to the 25th party in DEN. -Ken Larason (8/13/11) FLacebook: Now I recall OLF! We landed and got stuck for 24 hrs because of a snow storm. And Charlie and someone else picked us up at the Motel!! I think they took us to a VFW or American Legion! We started on Beer, then went to, as we called it Black Bleery Brandy. They found me later outside by the car, and there was purple snow all around where I was standing! Don't know how it got tthere??? :>) -Ken Larason (5/24/12) FLacebook To all, you can quit talking about me now!!!! The story about my demise is untrue !!!!! After 10 days in Hospital, I'm back online,and watching you from Rehab center!!!!!! -Ken Larason (8/4/16) YAY Ken!! So happy to hear you are doing better <3 -Maggie Johnson (8/5/16) Good to hear Ken I miss you man. -David Snyder (8/5/16) What happened??? -Jeanie Sillars Reinke (8/5/16) Haven't heard a thing..but dont see you often... gee..glad your ok!..Where are you?.. I have connections in the rehab world.. hope you get home soon..let me know if I can help ya out.. -Deby Corkins Kuederle (8/5/16) Am in Greenbriar rehab. Bradenton,FL. Had water from lungs built around heart.. Hope to get out of here next week. -Ken Larason (8/5/16) Get better you old fart. -Mick Entler (8/5/16) No more Gator ade. -Rosemary Wirth VanEpps (8/5/16) Oh my goodness. I am glad you are fine. -Debbie Brown (8/5/16) Thanks for letting us know, Ken. You're in our thoughts so GET WELL SOON! -Jake Lamkins (8/5/16) FLacebook 79th Birthday today. -Jake Lamkins (8/10/16) FLacebook - FL Club FLight West: Pilot Ken Larason Postings at Ken's Facebook page say he flew west a few days ago. Looking for confirmation - post any info you have. -Jake Lamkins (2/19/17) Ken was a good friend, and we spent quite a bit of time drinking beer at the Flair in Aurora. Ken found his way to Florida and our emails became sparse. I did hear from him recently, he had been driving a beer truck back and forth to Jacksonville. He had a lady friend who would look in on him on occasions, and she found him unresponsive on the floor of his apartment on February, 13th 2017!! -John Winter, FAL. 09471 (2/19/17) Thanks for the info confirming Ken's flight west. I was sorry to hear it. Ken & I lifted quite a few at the Ramada Inn bar on Smith Road in DEN and several times in FSM. He was a very likable guy. Forward his obit if you see it. Thanks, -Jake Lamkins (2/19/17) Sorry to hear about Ken. He was a terrific fellow. Like with you Sir John, we shared some time together with our elbows bent at the Flair. Ken will, no doubt, enjoy smooth air, warm-soft tailwinds, and a bright star to steer by on his flight west... -Billy Walker (2/20/17) Re: FLight West: Pilot Ken Larason Just a little more on the passing of Captain Ken Larason. I just got off the phone with his sister who was able to relate a little more on Captain Larason's life. He was born in NW Missouri , near Maryville and worked on several farms before enlisting in the United States Air Force where he attended basic training in San Antonio, Texas. Upon completion of basic training he was schooled as an aircraft jet mechanic and based at Lincoln AFB Nebraska. He began flying on his own and accumulated enough flight time to be hired as an Airline Pilot with Frontier Airlines upon his discharge from the USAF!! Ken flew all the aircraft types that Frontier had and by all accounts was an excellent pilot, as well as a great person to work with, He developed lasting friendships with not only the pilots he flew with, but with many of the support personnel he worked with!! I hate to see one of our family pass without a kind word or two as to their contributions to the worlds best little Airline with the best employees!! -John Winter, FAL 09471 (2/20/17) FLacebook - FL Club FLight West: Ken Larason DFW DEN pilot Ken Larason's memorial webpage is posted at http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Ken_Larason.html Still need an obituary for Ken. Post your remembrances. -Jake Lamkins (2/28/17) He was a very nice person and I enjoyed flying with him. He will be greatly missed. -Sharon Bennett Jean (3/3/17) T'day would have been Ken's 86th Birthday! RIP ol' friend! -Billy Walker (8/10/23) Ken was a fine fellow. We lifted many a toast together at the Ramada Inn in Denver in the early 1980s. -Jake Lamkins (9/10/23)