SCOTT KELLER 1947 - 1978 PILOT, CHIEF PILOT, VP-FLIGHT OPERATIONS SLC DEN Thanks for the FAL News - It's great. My only contact with the past - and the wonderful people of Frontier -Scott Keller (9/4/01) Thanks for the FRONTIER NEWS. It makes for a nice trip down memory lane. -Scott Keller, Lakeside Mt (8/20/03) 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. For an airline that went missing, now, twenty years later the dedicated employees from that era still remember those wonderful years backed up by the remarkable letters received by you of past good times. I read those items, and I wish it was yesteryear. Many of the names I recall very well. As Captain Jack Schade best describes it, 'I know the readers will wish that we could all go back in time for just a little while.' 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. Clear skies and robust tail winds. -Captain Tex Searle (8/18/05) Scott Keller born 10-8-1918 and died in Montana 12-15-2005, that is all the info I have, -Al Kendell (12/17/05) Here's his obit from the SLC paper http://www.legacy.com/saltlaketribune/LegacySubPage2.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=15994247 -H. A."Jack" Frost (12/18/05) Thanks again for the help, Frosty. -Jake Lamkins (12/18/05) Was in SLC at the FARPA Lunch Bunch and learned Scott Keller died that morning (the 15th). Services in Kalispell. Hope alls well with you! My apologies if you've already received this. However, I have heard from a few FAL folks who had not... For those of you on the list who came to Frontier late in the game, Scott was the Chief Pilot in SLC when I was based there in '67. He went on to be the VP Flight Ops when Ed O'Niel became VP Ops. Scott Keller was, in my view, the consumate gentleman and a pleasure to fly with. During WWII, he dead-sticked a C-47 into a canyon east of SLC. If I have the story right, everyone was safe and the airplane flew again! -Billy Walker (12/18/05) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FROM SCOTT'S ONLINE FUNERARY GUESTBOOK December 18, 2005 Thanks for letting me fly with you Scott. I never knew a finer person and pilot. Richard A. Thomason Captain-Old Frontier Airlines -Richard Thomason (Anacortes, WA ) December 19, 2005 God Speed, and Look forward to seeing you Again. -Bill Blackmon (OKC) December 19, 2005 'Til we fly together again Scott, have a good flight west. I first flew, as a new hire copilot, with Scott in early 1961. He started out with an extremely scared cojock and ended up with one that was relaxed, happy, more informed and feeling very fortunate for the experience. What an outstanding human being and pilot. My heartfelt condolances to his family. -Billy Watkins (Brighton, CO ) December 27, 2005 My condolences and sympathy to Scott's family. I worked with him at Frontier Airlines and gave him a few headaches as flight attendant safety chair. He always knew when I was right! See you in heaven's hangar, Scott. -Connie Capps (Centennial, CO ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I Remember When: By Duane Phelps 1949-1985 (36 years) Hired 6/49 Stn. Agt. Alamosa for $150 per mo.,6 day wk,8 hr. shifts. Capt. Geo. Meshko flew me to Pueblo in an open cockpit PT-19 to Watch the Blue Angels in prop F8 aircraft. (Better than Jets) Capt. Army Armstrong arrived early came into the Stn. Tuned the radio To HF Freq. Had me listen to an ATC Clearance, and told me I had better Be able to recite a clearance the next time he came thru. Jim Montgomery,Dir. Of Stns. Called Mgr. Stamey to fire both agents Tom McAfee and myself for visiting on the teletype for 20 mins. The Day before as all msgs went to all teletypes, we apologized and stayed on. Using the Official Airline Guide foo Schedules and Fares over our local Stn. Phone and teletype for reservations was an awesome experience. Transferred to Grand Junction Nov.49 and flew Steward 3days a wk. RT GJT/ABQsometimes missed conn. In Durango so onto DEN with RON At the Argonaut Hotel. Rode observer with Geo. Graham and Glen Gettman Practicing under hood at Stapelton, both became Capts. On my second FIt. I went to the cockpit and asked if it was true that the Pilots and stews sometimes shared the same bed and was told of coarse, That CO and TW stews were even waiting in their rooms on layover in ABQ. It took me a little while to realize how my leg had been pulled by the best Two pullers on the airline, Art Ashworth and Ace Avakian. Jim Montgomery sent me a message in Sept. 50 to report to SLC to replace Tom Makurat who had been drafted. Lou Berets was the Stn. Mgr. And Red Davis, Regional Mgr. The Stn. Was open 24 Hrs. and that lIP to 7A shift every 4 wks. Was tough to adjust too. Red Davis,Dex Alger and Scott Keller were Very close employee friends. Lou sent me to my first Stn.Mgr. Meeting in BIL, I only missed one Mgr. Meeting in 33 yrs. Feb. 1953 I was awarded Stn. Mgr. At Laramie WY. Ray Spiars,Paul McClure, Jim Snider, and John Chapel were agents that worked in LAR to continue Their college classes at the Univ. of Wyo. Our small terminal building was owned by FL, John & I were painting the wood shingles, he slipped off breaking his heel bone, but soon back to work in a walking cast. Runway lights were Flush with the ground, I had to sweep them off with a broon many times to Get the evening fIts. In. We had to drive our cars out to the airplane to install Control locks so they could taxi in due to high wind and back out to remove For takeoff. United Vice-Pres. in DEN would invite us FL mgrs. To sit in on their Daily briefing concerning the previous days operation for the entire UA system. The Conquistadores (all the airline and airplane mfg. Presidents) would come to a Dude Ranch in Saratoga WY. Each yr. We would drive rental cars from LAR to them. Met C.R. Smith AA, Bob Six CO, W.A. Patterson UA, and Donald Douglas. I received a Gold Pen from W.A. Patterson for assisting a UA accident in Snowy Range outside LAR in 1955. I won a trip to Europe on Sabena Airlines in 1957 for a story ! submitted. Lois a i spent 15 days and 7 cities at age 27. 1958 to Riverton WY. Stn. Mgr. $375 per mo. We had 3 way connection of fits. Twice a day. Harold Long, Gary McCarrel, and Homer Cauthon were Sr. Agts. And a great crew that worked split shifts for many years. We moved into a new terminal in 1959, two yrs. Later someone left a cigarette and half the building burned at night, we continued flights, but the smell was not pleasant. Transferred to SLC Stn. Mgr. May 1964. We had a UA DC-3 with a small cargo door on the opposite side, I was to show the agents how to latch it, did not do it right and we had 7 bags fall out on the runway at 80 MPH when FIt. Returned. Luckily we did not lose any mail pouches. We had previous Mgrs. Come to Work in SLC, Gordon Bost, Geo. Hobbs, Clay Tanner, and Geo. Slivka. Don Anderton was Asst. Mgr, Gary McCarrel, Stan Covington,Dean Buethe, and Don Halterman were Sr. Agts. Maint.,Stewardess, and Pilots were based in SLC. We had many fog problems usually around the Holidays, created severe Problems attempting to work Fits. At Ogden Airport. The AL Feldman years were the best for the employees and the Airline and he will never be forgotten by most of us that knew him personally. -Duane Phelps (2/6/06) I started with FL in May, 1955 in RKS. Larry Jereb was mgr with Bill Kirkwood, Ray Aho, Bob White, Bob Cady as agents. Had a RON DC3 from DEN so we got to do everything. Transferred to SLC in Dec 1955 and worked there until the closedown. Lou Berets was mgr but also worked for Dick Lohbeck, Duane Phelps and Harold Maxwell. Some of the oldtimers - Tom Morris, Meredith Dexter, Jim Crosley, Bruce Anderson, Russell Boice, Jeanette Sumrall (TCA), Dex Alger (sales mgr), Sydney Soyka (CTO), Jim Lether, Gary McCarrell, Gary Bollschweiler, Stan Covington, Mike Caldwell, Don Brady (lead mech), Scott Keller (chief pilot), Angelo George (mech), Gary Horne (mech), Chester Fitch (mech), Ray Duffek, Clem Church, A.G. Smith, Gene Swingler, Merle Beeler. Worked with many more, but the memory dims with age. -Don Anderton (4/11/09) My step Father was Carlton K Foster. He started as A ramp /Ticket Agent in Phoenix with Challenger Airlines 1949. Soon became Station Manager PHX. Was transferred to Douglas Arizona, he was Station Manager and every thing else,one man station. He was transferred to Winslow also as station manager after closing the Douglas Station. We were in Winslow for about two years, he was then transferred back to PHX as the Regional Supervisor working under A man named Elton Snoke. He was then transferred to salt Lake City as Regional Supervisor. We lived in A duplex owned by Scott Keller next door to him. Scott And my dad were very good friends. My Dad was then transferred to Denver also as Regional supervisor. He worked for Frontier until late 1966 or just about the time FAL got the first 727. My dad flew out to Boeing and flew back on the first FAL 727, have photo of him on board with Boeing rep. There are some names that need to be added to the obits. -Gary Beam (9/8/09) L S KELLER Pilot seniority date of 3/7/47 on the 9/1/72 FL/ALPA seniority list. He retired in Oct 1978 when he turned 60. -Jake Lamkins (12/7/09) FL Club Updated memorial webpage SCOTT KELLER 1947 - 1978 PILOT, CHIEF PILOT, VP-FLIGHT SLC DEN http://OR2.tripod. com/Scott_ Keller.html Post your remembrances of Scott. -Jake Lamkins (12/7/09) FLacebook Scott was my father. My friend, Bryan Anderson, a new Frontier Pilot, sent me a facebook message regarding some old pictures of my Dad on the Frontier website. It was nice to see some of his old friends and his old Frontier pictures too. My Brother Scott Keller was also an airline pilot with Continental and also flew with some of the old Frontier guys. -Rob Keller (6/30/14) Great hearing from you today because today's postal mail brought a letter from pilot Tex Searle with clippings from your dad's 1943 crash in Utah in a military C-47. I'll be posting it at FLacebook and your dad's webpage as soon as I can. Get your brother to join us too. Welcome aboard! -Jake Lamkins (6/30/14) Three photos from 1964 and one from 1967 reprinted with permission from the book FROM THE COCKPIT TO THE GALLEY by Bonnie C. Dahl and Patty A. McNeill. -Jake Lamkins (8/7/14) FLacebook - FL Club SLC DEN pilot Scott Keller's memorial webpage has been upgraded. http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Scott_Keller.html Added numerous items and moved to a non-ad site. -Jake Lamkins (8/7/14) Thanks for keeping this all going. I really appreciated reading and viewing my Dad's updated memorial. -Rob Keller (8/7/14) FLacebook - FL Club FLight West: Scott Keller SLC DEN pilot Scott Keller's memorial webpage has been updated at http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Scott_Keller.html Several items added included a 100th birthday eulogy by his son Rob. -Jake Lamkins (10/25/18)