VERN MCMULLEN 1949 - 1986 STATION AGENT, STATION MANAGER GEY COD LBF RAP I was hired by Jim Montgomery, Challenger Airlines, October 19, 1949, in Denver. Was assigned to Greybull, WY. Had to wait for two days until the blizzard of '49 ended. Most of the seats on the DC-3 had been removed and the area was filled with bread and milk. In those days, you had to have a third class radio license and a weather certificate. Moved to Cody, WY in June of 1953 as manager, opening a new station. At that time Yellowstone traffic arrived by train or air and toured in yellow open topped buses. Cody had no navigational aids and minimums were 1500 ft ceiling and three miles visibility, so instrument approach was made on the H marker at Powell and VFR to Cody. We reported a lot of 1500 ft ceilings with the remark 'ragged ceilings', letting the Captain know the ceiling was probably less than 1500 ft but good visibility underneath. Moved to North Platte, NE when we took over the United route after the Seven States case in June, 1959. Was the home town of Rush Clarke, who was on NE's Aeronautical Board and made life miserable for Frontier for a time. North Platte was a division and relocation center for the railroad. Shortly after we took over there was an article in the local paper suggesting they plow up the airport and plant corn and make the terminal a retirement home for railroad engineers. Moved to Rapid City, SD in February of 1966. One of two on-line board members lived in Rapid City. He was an active board member and kept life interesting. Rapid had the first scheduled jet service and backed up the first 727 before it became a standard procedure. In the 1980s Ed Gerhart was assigned the job of writing Frontier's history. He spent a couple years interviewing people. My wife transcribed the tapes for him, but unfortunately we did not keep a copy. Ed finally gave up on the book and turned all the material over to Denver University or the Colorado Museum, some one locally in Denver. The book contained a lot of interesting information, such as how the CV-580 got its name and how the first DC-3s were picked out for the airlines. Stayed in Rapid City and worked for Continental as a supervisor until they left, then was manager for Rocky Mountain/Continental commuter until I retired May 1, 1992. Stayed in Rapid City, hunt some, fish some, woodwork and garden. Active with Boy Scouts, and Kiwanis and on the board of the Minnilusa Historical Association. -Vern McMullen (8/14/04) Hi Vern, Great hearing from you and thanks for supporting the FL NEWS. I appreciated the biographical note too. I'll use it in the next issue. -Jake Lamkins (8/14/04) Hi Vern, Got your check today and thanks for your support. I'll have the latest edition in the mail to you tomorrow. Great having you back as a subscriber. Do I recall right you were with the company 1949-86? -Jake Lamkins (5/28/10) Thanks for the info, will be looking forward to the paper. 1949 to 86 with Frontier is correct. -Vern McMullen (6/4/10) Vernon D Mcmullen, 81 Vernon Dale Mcmullen Vernon M Mcmullen Vern Mcmullen Vernon D Mumullen Karen R Mcmullen -US Search (7/22/10) I got a note today from Mark McMullen that his father Vern McMullen died April 2021 in Rapid City. -Carolyn Boller (7/11/21) Thanks, Carolyn. This must be the most flights west we've ever gotten from the reunion mailing. -Jake Lamkins (7/11/21) V D MCMULLEN COD station manager Per the Nov 1955 employees roster. ---------------------------------- V D MCMULLEN LBF station manager DOB 4/26/29 DOH 10/19/49 Per the Feb 1960 employees roster. ---------------------------------- V D MCMULLEN Emp# 05626 RAP station manager DOB 4/26/29 DOH 10/19/49 Per the Dec 1970 employees roster. ---------------------------------- V D MCMULLEN Emp# 05626, RAPOO Per the Nov 1984 employees roster. -Jake Lamkins (7/15/21) FLacebook Frontier Memorial Webpage Posted VERN MCMULLEN 1949 - 1986 STATION AGENT, STATION MANAGER GEY COD LBF RAP http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Vern_McMullen.html Post your remembrances of him. He was three days from his 92nd birthday. Vern had 37 years with Frontier and 20+ years as RAP station manager. Be sure to read what happened to him in LBF on Oct 23, 1959. -Jake Lamkins (7/16/21) Fred Watson R.I.P. Gary Messerli He was my station manager when I started with FL in RAP. Great manager. As long as everyone knew what they were supposed to do and were doing it, he was hands off. He trusted us to do our job. One of the best I ever worked for. Trish Swanson-Hawk Prayers for his family and many friends. (7/17/21)