ZEKE ATWOOD 1954 - 1986 STATION AGENT, SENIOR STATION AGENT RKS SDY OLF BIL Les (Zeke) Atwood (wife: Arlean) 327 Russell Dr. Billings, MT 59102 (406) 259-6916 After returning home from military and civil service in Germany on July 3, 1953 I rested up until August 1954 when I was hired by FAL on September 24, 1954. But for someones goof-up they did not notify 8 people for the September training class. Because of this they set up a special class in October in Denver for the 8 people. During this class they asked if anyone would voluntarily take a typing test. I volunteered and was the first to take this test for Frontier. This was a big joke because all they had for this was a long carriage accounting typewriter and a small typing stand. Everytime you returned it, the typewriter would fall off the stand! Then I went to Rock Springs, Wyoming to work until they opened the Highline route. On Thanksgiving day of 1954 I went from Rock Springs to Sidney, Montana to open the station and work. Then on New Years Day of 1955 was transferred to Wolf Point to help open up that station. Then on April 3rd I transferred to Billings, arriving just in time for the 43 inches of snow on the the level. The managers of these stations at this time were Jim Sabation — Sidney, Ken Berrett — Wolf Point and Billings - Mel Bernard, Gordon Bost, Ollie Brunz, Marv Pester, and Gene Martin (at the time of the bankruptcy). (Editors note: My memory isn’t any better than Zeke’s - I had to call Gene Martin to verify but Joe Barker was manager when FAL went out and Larry Scofield was also manager between Ollie and Marv Pester. Jim Schneider was in the mix somewhere as well. Back to Zeke’s bio:) During my time with Frontier Airlines I was an agent up to about 1970 when I became a Sr. Agent until the end. While with Frontier I injured my back three times. First time was in February, 1967 just after a light snow storm. I was moving the large power unit away from the aircraft. The second time was in 1977 when trying to remove a large 750 pound barrel of chains out of the front pit of the Convair and the third time when loading a 240 pound drill bit into the rear pit of the DC3. I was laid up and on Workmans Comp until 1986 when Frontier went into bankruptcy. I then started my retirement in 1987 and have been since then to the present time. I had a total of 32 years, 11 months and was number 11 on the Frontier Seniority list. -Zeke Atwood in the 2003 BIL Reunion booklet (5/10/05) Zeke was a SSA at Billings for many years. His funeral is Friday, April 17 at Smith's Funeral Service in Billings. Zeke was 80 years old. No obituary information available. -Darrell Robson (4/14/09) Posted at the FL Club Les "Zeke" Atwood has died. Zeke's obit is at http://billingsgazette.net/articles/2009/04/15/obituaries/50-atwoodl.txt Does anybody recall how he got his nickname? -Jake Lamkins (4/15/09) I don't know how he got it. He was just always "Zeke" for as long as I've known him. First met him in 1967 when I transferred to Billings. -Darrell Robson (4/15/09) Jack Martin sent a hard copy of Zeke's obituary. -Jake Lamkins (4/20/09) Burial card and obituary sent by Marge Timmons Flynn. -Jake Lamkins (6/29/09) L C ATWOOD BIL station agent per the Nov 1955 Frontier Roster. L C ATWOOD BIL station agent DOB 9/24/28 DOH 9/20/54 per the Feb 1960 Frontier Roster. L C ATWOOD Emp# 00584, ORG# 3386 BIL DOH and station agent seniority date of 9/20/54, #19 in the group per the Oct 1986 FL/ALEA Seniority List -Jake Lamkins (8/5/16) FLacebook - FL Club FLight West: Zeke Atwood BIL senior station agent Zeke Atwood's memorial webpage has been updated: http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Zeke_Atwood.html A few items added but could use a better photo. -Jake Lamkins (8/5/16)