TEX SEARLE 1956 - 1985 PILOT SLC DEN I am trying to get in contact with Capt. Tex Searle, but had heard a rumor that he'd passed away. I checked your site of Frontier Obituaries, and he was not listed. Could you please let me know if this rumor is true - and if it's not, could you please point me in the right direction for contacting him? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! -Jessica L. Daley (8/29/03) Hello Jessica, I have no info about Tex passing away and have forwarded your post to his eddress. So, he should be contacting you unless he has passed away and I haven't heard. If I hear anything, I will pass it on to you. By the way, have you read Tex's book? It's great! -Jake Lamkins (8/29/03) Yes, I looked in the mirror, and as for as I can tell I'm still alive. I just got back from a wonderful four days of ATVing on the Utah west desert. Not bad for an old codger. I was asked to contact you, so here I am. -Tex Searle (8/29/03) Hi Tex, I just re-read your book and enjoyed it even more than before. I made an index of all the FL folks mentioned in it. I wonder if I could use parts of your book on the FL obituary pages and in the newsletter? I would certainly give you credit for anything used. Hope all's well with you. -Jake Lamkins (10/20/04) Hi Jake: Have at it and thanks for doing such a good job on the newsletter. -Tex Searle (10/21/03) (Editors note: I contacted Tex (Capt. - SLC) to see if he could come up and bring or send copies of his book "The Golden Years of Flying". He has also written a fiction book that has not been published as yet. Here is his response:) I did two printings of "The Golden Years" and 5000 copies were sold. I am waiting for a publishing company to see if they'll take it on. It got to be more of a job than I planned on, didn't expect it to do what it did. Right now I'm out of books--wish I had some for you. If I can't find someone to take it on I may do another printing. The new book, if it receives name clearance, will be called "A Last Hurrah". I want to try and get "Golden Years" into publishing before I spring "A Last Hurrah" on them. Hurrah is fiction. Three old retirees hijack a DC-3 from drug runners and after that it's one episode after another. The copilots I flew with always said I had a big imagination. I wish I could be at the reunion, I'll be away at a family reunion. Please give my regards to everyone BIL was my favorite layover. -Tex Searle in the 2003 BIL Reunion booklet Hi Jake, Hope all is well with you. When I moved I unpacked a box that has about 75 copies of the old Frontier magazine. Do you know if they are worth anything? Thanks again for everything. -Tex Searle (10/24/06) Hi Tex, Thanks for your letter. I appreciate your support. I have seen the FL magazines on ebay for a few buck each but I'm sure they would be worth more to some ex-FLolks. If you want to sell them, I would recommend taking them to the next FL reunion you attend. -Jake Lamkins (10/24/06) T E SEARLE Seniority date of 7/16/56 on the 9/1/81 FL/ALPA seniority list. Not on the 9/1/85 list. -Jake Lamkins (10/24/06) Hi Tex. First I want to say we have missed you at the FAL reunions in June. Hope everything is okay with you. About your books, have you done anymore with the second one and do you still have copies of the first. -Paul Farris (7/31/07) Hi Paul: It was good to hear from you and for your interest in the book. The book The Golden Years is out of print, but a publisher has picked it up and we've signed a contract and it should be back in print later this year. If you'll contact me this fall maybe then I'll more information on it. My second book, A Last Hurrah they tell me should be in print in the Spring. But I wonder. Paul, I miss the good ol' days and wish we could do it again. You all were a great bunch of guys. I can't get out much at the present time—My wife is in ill health, but I have hopes of attending some of the get to gathers at a later time. Thanks again for your interest and and tell the gang hello. -Tex Searle (8/4/07) They've made a classy book out of the old "Golden years." And I want to thank you for your work and suggestions on the book. Later I would like to contribute a couple of funny stories from the agents. -Tex Searle (2/14/09) For now Keep using the same address that's on your newsletter. That's my condo in Lehi. Eventually I'll be moving back there. My wife is the resident here at Cove Point, I pay extra so I can stay here with her and help care for her. She has dementia that has changed her whole personality. There are times she doesn't even recognise me. It's a hell of a thing to go through. but for all the fun times she arranged for our family to make it a good life I want to be near her. Sorry I got to ambling on here, but I'll stay in touch with you on several articles I think you would enjoy. -Tex Searle (2/26/09) Hi Tex, I'm sorry to hear about your wife. That must be a terrible thing to go through. I hope it works out for the best. Send me any stories you have that aren't in the book. If you got enough, I could make them a regular feature in the newsletter. -Jake Lamkins (2/26/09) Don Anderton just called to tell me that Tex Searle's wife his died. Her obiturary is in today's Deseret News. Tex has not been to the SLC reunion for four or five years becase he has been taking care of her. -Paul Farris (3/28/10) My wife passed away last spring and I was lost for awhile but now remarried to a lovely lady I once courted in the lates 40s. She has a home here in Mesa so we will be living in Arizona in the winter and my condo in Utah in the summer. At our age it's one step at a time. When I get back to Utah I'll give you a holler and maybe come up with a couple more stories. -Tex Searle (3/21/11) T E SEARLE Notation says Tex SLC copilot DOB 3/25/27 DOH 7/16/56 per the Feb 1960 FL Roster ----------------------- T E SEARLE Emp# 07790 SLC captain DOB 3/25/27 DOH 7/16/56 per the Dec 1970 FL Roster ----------------------- T E SEARLE Emp# 07790, DENSE Address in Orem, Utah per the Nov 1984 FL Roster -Jake Lamkins (11/3/11) Tex called to tell me his wife, Mary, has Gone West. As you know she's spent a lot of time in the hospital lately and just couldn't come thru it all. Damn, this is twice and all too soon for our pal Tex. Mary's services will be Saturday and then he'll head back to SLC Sunday. If you get a chance, you might want to give Tex a call: 801-830-6925 -Billy Walker (1/16/13) Thanks for the info, Billy. Sad news! I'm sending a card. -Jake Lamkins (1/16/13) Notecard to Tex: Dear Tex, I am very, very sorry to hear of your loss. My condolences and sympathy, -Jake Lamkins (1/18/13) Hi Jake It's like old times talking with you again. I've moved, so information and such as you've needed has been slow coming in trying to locate where everything is. This place I'm in is called Atria Senior Living. The food is good and I come and go as I want. Believe it or not my book the Golden Years of Flying is still in print after all these years and doing well. (I've been lucky). Before my second wife passed away she made me promise I'd finish my second novel and it's now in the hands of a publisher. Keep my fingers crossed. -Tex Searle (12/28/13) FLacebook on 2/6/17 Paul Farris I talked to Tex Searle yesterday. He sounds great and has another book finished and is waiting for it to be published. He lives in Atria Senior Living Center in Sandy, Utah. I'm sure he would enjoy a call from any former FAL person. Joe Barker Paul, do you know what his new book is about? Paul Farris He said it was fiction. Just several different stories. I can't wait to read it. Christina Bonatti Can't wait to call him Kathleen Dionne Thanks I was just thinking of him as I couldn't find his book he sent to Lou years ago. Think it may have been shared with someone. Loved reading it. Paul Farris That was something Tex cautioned me about Kathleen, was lending books. He said you never get them back. I had just told him that I loaned my copy of "Then Golden Age of Flying" to Sharlene Hall. (2/6/17) FLacebook postings Jake Lamkins Here's a pic of pilot Tex Searle who turned 90 earlier this year. It was taken Jan 31, 1985 when he retired. Tex wrote a wonderful book about Frontier and the FLamily. https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Years-Flying-Tex-Searle/ (11/14/17) Belea Bower Just ordered it, thanks Jake! Charles Quarles I've had the book for a long time... Bonnie Dahl I love that Book, have 2 copies, the original & the redo! Jake Lamkins I had the honor of helping a little with the redo and my name is mentioned in the preface. Robert Williams Howdy Tex, I miss flying with ya! Kathleen Dionne Love the book! Have read it twice. So honored to have been able to fly with so many of these very special pilots he wrote about. John Shelburne I bought several copies and left them in crew lounge DIA when I was doing charter ops... fortunately, I saved one for myself. Mynette McKamey Loved your book and loved flying with you even more, Tex! Linda Ottley Rich Have read the book a dozen times and love it. And love Tex as well. What a wonderful man! Al Collar Thanks. Ordering it asap. Lynn Robins Just ordered it also! Thanks! (11/15/17) Phoned Tex about publishing his autobiography. He said, "Do anything you want with it." He sounded great and we chatted awhile til his phone started acting up. He will send me some articles on Ed Radford and others. Watches cowboys on TV all the time and does not have the energy to do anything. He sounded good, especially since he turned 91 a few months ago. -Jake Lamkins (9/14/18) Tex phoned and left a message yesterday. I called him back today and he thanked me profusely for the newsletter article. He asked me to send him 6 copies for his family. He also promised again to send me the Radford story and others. -Jake Lamkins (10/16/18) Got a letter from Tex with $50 to cover the copies I sent. I asked him to not send any more money. Making the newsletter cover really excited him. -Jake Lamkins (11/1/18) Undated online item Captain Tex Searle I live in Atria, a Senior Living Center, located in Sandy, Utah. All the senior pilots, except one, that contributed stories for my book, The Golden Years of Flying, are now gone. I miss them terribly, but their wonderful stories will live on. After about 25 years, I've just completed a fictional manuscript about 3 old codgers who struggled to return to those days when airplanes made sounds like real airplanes. Of course, the airplane they hijacked was the Grand Ole' Lady, a DC-3 they named Bessie. I'm currently looking for a publisher. -https://www.lybrary.com/captain-tex-searle-m-133961.html FLacebook on 2/21/21 Paul Farris Frontier Captain Tex Searle took his last flight. Another good man has flown west. RIP Tex Searle! Fred Watson RIP, Tex Bill Guthrie Sad news. He was one of the good guys. Jake Lamkins A GREAT guy! He was featured on the cover of the FL NEWS. Anne Schade Elwood I am so sad to learn of the passing of Tex. I'm Jack Schade's oldest daughter. My dad worked at Frontier with Tex. I spent many times with my dad and your fun dad. The last time was at the Frontier Reunion in June of 2019. He was chipper, full of stories and delightful. I know my dad thought the world of him in every way. May God bless you all in this sad time. Dean Johnson I have many fond memories of my time flying with Tex as his co-pilot. I flew with him during his final month of flying before retiring at Frontier Airlines. There never was a better pilot than Tex. I learned so much from him not only about flying but also how to be a decent human being. We all will miss his great humor, singing, and companionship. Patty Hughes Smith What a fun And cheerful Captain... Had a contagious laugh. Thank you for the great memories. Prayers for family Darrell Robson Tex was one of the greatest! RIP, Captain. Jack McLaughlin Good guy to fly with. Never figured the Tex nickname. Jake Lamkins His real name was Texal. Phillip R Stallings RIP Tex Searle! Mary Herr Enjoyed flying with this special pilot. I think he use to fly with a pilot named Al. They were so much fun! Paul Farris Yes, Al Harris. Jaynie Bishop Al Harris and Tex - flew lots with them. Trish Swanson-Hawk Prayers for his family and many friends Pam Coffman Ellis Great guy. Prayers for his family and friends Gretchen Densley Always enjoyed flying with Tex Lynn Osadchuk So sorry for the Searle family. Sweet guy Joy Trudeau He was one of my favorite pilots. Quite the gentleman. Prayers for his family. Al Beardsley I really enjoyed my time flying with Tex! Rest In Peace Captain! Sharlene Hall Flew a lot with him, great pilot!! RIP Patricia Williams-harter Oh, such a wonderful man! Prayers for his family! RIP Tex! Patty Hughes Smith Tex was the best! Paul Farris While I was trying to get back to SLC and the last flight was full the gate told the captain about an agent trying to get home, the captain asked who it was and said bring him up here.Tex Searle said have a seat Paul, you’re going home. My first and only time on the jump seat on a 737. I am going to miss that pilot! Al Beardsley THIS is what made Frontier GREAT and Captain Tex Searle a good Friend!!! Ruth Pitts Always nice and smile sorry for his family. (2/21/21) Billy Walker RIP Tex, you were the BEST of the BEST! I really did think Tex'd outlive me. I flew as Tex's co-pilot at good ol' Frontier Airlines back in the 60s out of SLC. Those flights, now treasured memories. As you would know, Tex was working on his second book "A Grand Hurrah!" He had asked if I would help him finish the book. Tex sent me a copy of the final version, then called to tell me to hold up on things. He wanted to make some changes to the ending. I never heard more as things started downhill. I am one of those who counts myself fortunate to have known Tex, to have been one of the many co-pilots that he so ably mentored, to have been his friend, his colleague, and to have been included in his book, "The Golden Years of Flying." Tex was a treasure, he was legendary, yet he was humble. He was witty and yet exceedingly intelligent. Imagine the wide range of vocations he had along with being one of the greatest Frontier Airlines pilots ever. A molybdenum prospector/miner to a crop duster. Not just a Stearman of normally 225 horse power, Tex's Stearman had 600 horse power! Then running an airline, Majestic. Amazing! ...and always with a cheerful quiet confidence. Yup! Tex was a very special fellow. Elisabeth Werner Lane So sorry to hear this. What a wonderful, beautiful man. Loved flying with him. Rest in Peace my friend. Stanley Covington Truly a nice man Christina Bonatti Oh I am really going miss him. Yes him and al were a team . He was the best Henry Rankin Very funny man. Another "good" guy Pamela Olsen Tex was a cousin to my mom and they grew up together in Delta. I got to work with him and Doug at the old Frontier as well. Loved the family. R.I.P Tex. You will be missed. Bonnie Dahl Tex Searle was the best, another great man that helped shape the great Frontier Airlines! I have read his book several times! Loved him. Ron Blosch One of the best people to be placed on this planet!!! He will be truly missed!!! Lisa Kerr Zeman Always laughing! Pam Walcher My sincere condolences to his family. Norma McCarrel A Flight with TEX SEARLE on a DC three between RIW and VEL was always an adventure. Always flying low and looking for wildlife over the mountain. Then when we reached Vernal he would buzz The folks house to let them know we were about to land. Truly a great individual. He and others like him made Frontier Airlines a truly family affair back in the good all days. (2/22/21) Roberta Karr I too had the pleasure of flying with Tex Searle. His smile said it all. Bonnie Dahl Captain Tex Searle took his last Flight on 2-13-2021. Tex was one of our Heroes, damned good pilot, and friend to anyone that knew him. At the Phoenix picnic in about 2000, Tex showed up with boxes of his new book, "The Golden Years of Flying"! His boxes were soon empty. I started reading it and couldn't put it down! I am so sad to hear about Tex going West, but happy to have known this remarkable Man. God Bless you Tex! Shari Salsbury Tex was a very special human!!!!! I read his book, a couple of times & have it sitting on my book shelf! (2/23/21) Kathleen Dionne I got his book for Lou and also enjoyed reading it. Was sad to learn of his passing too and always feel fortunate to have worked with him also. (2/24/21) FLacebook Frontier Memorial Webpage Posted TEX SEARLE 1956 - 1985 PILOT SLC DEN http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Tex_Searle.html He was a TERRIFIC guy and I'll miss him. -Jake Lamkins (3/15/21) Rick Broome Probably the funniest guy to ever fly for our Frontier he wrote a couple books about it... Steve Tidler A great guy to work with , and genuinely nice man! Miss you , Tex Patty Hughes Smith Contagious laugh!, Ginger Treptow My condolences to the family, and may Tex Rest in Eternal Peace! George Fay R.I.P., Captain Tex... it was a pleasure to have known and worked with you! Jan Lefler R.I.P. Captain Tex, always had a smile. Condolences to his family. Greg Metz I love the poem Tex wrote! Dee Martenson Tex was a character.....really liked him. Roberta Brashears That smile says it all!! RIP Captain Fun!! Lisa Kerr Zeman He was just the best! Stephen Packard One of the best. Always treated F/As with respect and kindness. Just one heck of a great guy. Tom Robertson Another one of the really good guys gone. RIP Tex. Henry Greathouse Always full of smiles Mary Dipper He was great!! Cherylann Morgan So sad. RIP. (3/16/21) Bonnie Dahl What a Man! I will miss you soo much! Patty Hughes Smith A wonderful man ! (3/17/21) Sue Beckham He was such a delightful person Christina Bonatti I loved that man. I flew many a trips with him (3/18/21) Diane Trudeau Condolences to the family. Karen Ward Berry Always a smile loved working with you RIP Fred Watson RIP (3/19/21)