SAM GRANDE 1947 - 1978 PILOT SLC DEN Thought I would send along with my subscription renewal a few FL happenings back in the early fifties that may be of interest to the old FL employees. Early in 1950, shortly after the mergers that started FL, I was hired and sent to RIW. At that time RIW was a three man station and our office was on one end of the Sky Club, a local night club, which was constructed of logs and had a gambling casino in the basement. One of the problems we would encounter on occasion was that some of our pilots liked to spend time in the Casino. One pilot 1 remember in particular was Sam Grande. Sam liked to shoot craps. When the flight parked Sam was first off and made a dash for the Casino; if he had a hot hand it was difficult to get Sam back on the plane. Sam never did give us a delay. -Glenn Emmons (2/9/06) Sam Grande's pilot seniority date of 3/5/47 on the 10/28/67 FL/ALEA seniority list. -Jake Lamkins (6/19/08) Subject: Winter of 1947-48 I was flying co-pilot with Captain Sam Grande, DC-3, when the Union Pacific Railroad was shut down between Rock Springs and Rawlins, Wyo by the blizzard conditions that stacked snow so high and deep the east-bound and west bound trains were unable to move. Challenger was authorized by the CAA [FAA] to ferry supplies from each city involved like a freight operation. I don't remember how many trips we flew before going on into Salt Lake. This is such a long time ago that I remember Sam and I lived in the same neighborhood. He had a car and we drove to within about a mile of our homes when we were stopped by wind, snow and icy roads. When I reached my home, the wind had blown snow around my front door and into the entry hall. The Air Force from Hill AFB made air drops of hay, etc to the stranded animals wild and domestic. I remember that the braking conditions were very [dicey] for stopping and taxiing the airplane -Jack Schade (7/13/09) Retirements Sam Grande - captain, DEN, 31 years Per Feb/Mar 1978 FL NEWS -Jake Lamkins (3/27/10) I phoned Sam and he answered right away and sounded good and strong. Verified his address for the FL newsletter and we chatted a bit. He asked if I was related to pilot Pete Lamkin. I told him, "No, and I have an "s" to prove it. -Jake Lamkins (9/21/10) Visited with Sam Grande this afternoon, he turns 93 in March, he's doing great, lives alone but can't drive anymore, vision not good. -Bonnie Dahl (2/10/11) Facebook on 3/15/11 w/pic from Dahl. FL pilot Sam Grande is shown with FL FA Patty O'Neill at a recent FL gathering. Sam turns 93 this month and still lives alone. He started with Challenger Airlines on 3/5/47 and retired 31 years later in Mar 1978. -Jake Lamkins (3/20/11) S. GRANDE SLC captain DOB 3/16/18 DOH 3/5/47 Per Feb 1960 FL Roster -Jake Lamkins (4/29/11) Hi Bonnie, Have you heard anything lately on Sam Grande. You emailed three years ago that he was 93 and doing well. He must be 96 now! -Jake Lamkins (7/2/14) I talked to him when George Meshko passed away. Sam is good and in Assisted living home here in DEN. His eye sight is poor, but otherwise doing fine. I think he told me he was 96. How old is Willie Hurt? -Bonnie Dahl (7/2/14) Willie was 96 last month on Jun 19th. He and Sam must be the senior pilots still with us. -Jake Lamkins (7/2/14) FLacebook-FL Club Belated Birthday Greetings to pilots Sam Grande (Mar 16) and Willie Hurt (Jun 19) They both turned 96 years old! -Jake Lamkins (7/2/14) Sam Grande Just read in Sundays Denver Post that Sam Grande, 96 yrs old passed away on Feb 11, 2015. Just list family, no funeral services just a place to send donations. I think this is our Sam Grande, born 1918, died 2015. I don't know how to contact any of his family. It's expensive to run these obits in DEN post, so they say nothing about his life. -Bonnie Dahl (2/15/15) Capt Sam Grande I just talked to Mike Grande, Sam Grande's Son and he verified it was his Father, our Frontier Airline's Sam that passed away on Feb 11, 2015 here in Denver. He suffered a stroke. Only a private family funeral is planned. Notice was in the Denver Post, under Olinger mortuary. -Bonnie Dahl (2/15/15) FLacebook - FL Club Pilot Sam Grande Just got word Sam flew west four days ago, the same day as pilot Jack Burt. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/denverpost/obituary.aspx?pid=174147129 -Jake Lamkins (2/15/15) Used to fly up front with Sam back in the 727 days. Always a nice trip. -Dave Mann (2/15/15) RIP our fellow family members. Gone but never forgotten. -Hal Geyer (2/15/15) Always a great Captain to fly with, a true gentleman! -Jack McLaughlin (2/15/15) I flew trips with him back in 62 and 63 out of SLC. Always liked him. -Dee Martenson (2/15/15) Capt Grande was a great guy and always treated his crew and fellow workers great. Good bye to Sam, we will miss you. -Bonnie Dahl (2/15/15) What a great smile and twinkle in his eye. Loved him so much. He showed his crews such respect and we so trusted when he was in front. Goodbye Capt Grande. You were truly one of the great ones. Sigh ... -Rosemary Wirth VanEpps (2/15/15) What a nice guy. I remember many trips with Sam. My condolences to his Family. -Tom Robertson (2/15/15) Capt. Grande nice to fly with also I know he was a great golfer saw his name on a plaque at the Fitzsimmons golf course, condolence to his family. Goodbye Capt. Grande, you left lots of fon memories. -Ruth Pitts (2/15/15) Sam was truly one of the nicest guys and always such a pleasure to fly with. He's getting a huge welcome from all of those we have lost over the years - let the party continue!! RIP Sam, we loved you. -Joanne Griffin (2/16/15) Photo of Sam and group from 1977 reprinted with permission from the book FROM THE COCKPIT TO THE GALLEY by Bonnie C. Dahl and Patty A. McNeill. -Jake Lamkins (2/28/15) FLacebook - FL Club SLC DEN pilot Sam Grande's memorial webpage is posted. http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Sam_Grande.html One of the last of the pioneer Challenger Airlines pilots. -Jake Lamkins (3/2/15) Sam was my grandfather who passed away this last February. I was sent a link to your webpage from a cousin of mine. THANK YOU very much for your work on the page. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories and pictures. Now as I sit here typing this as my 2 boys play outside, I'm thankful I now have some pictures and stories of their great grandpa to share with them as they get older. Thank you! -Tony Schaefer (4/28/15)