Jean Smith Iverson
wiverson@comcast.net
 

Richard Jeppesen
ftjeppesen@yahoo.com

Mike Jewitt
KB7WBL@hotmail.com
 

Jim Johnson
jimandsam@aol.com

Jim Johnson LAS doh Aug 9 1965 at age 20 by Bill Company of Pacific Airlines in that oily old Pan Am hanger that I'll never forget. "test? You went to college now go to work in LAS Monday

OJT by manager Duke Johnson (wow) but loved him. Watched so many others try to get jobs with the Majors but then we just sat still and almost passed them in pay scale and those unbelievable pass privileges that I used to the extreme (before 90 percent load factors).  What a ride we had. I remember our Pacific counter was right next to Bonanza's, the biggest in LAS. Great friends were made over that little wall that lasted a lifetime. We'd get bored and take their pax our of line and ticket them, something our accounting group just couldn't understand. I remember some big wigs coming to town after the RW merger asking if we'd had problems. Simple answer, "Heck no we've always been merged". Loved being a face with a name that was recognized if not always for the best of reasons and not just a number. Don't ask about the belt loader I ran through the ticket counter wall. We all now know what a bigger company did to that feeling and deeply mourn the loss.

In 1980 I was blessed by marrying my co-worker Samalee Huff. In 1986/7 we transferred to MEM and my fifth carrier and found ourselves as ESEs. And we thought an "A" station at RW was big, it took me four months to learn the gates working a relief crew. This was NOT the same atmosphere as 1968, not by a long shot. The regional folks had to back against the wall or at least that's what it felt like for a short time. In 2003 and a lot of new friends later I was sidelined by a back injury that eventually disqualified me to work with 38 years. In fear that the same would happen to Sammie she pulled the plug on April 1 2009 after 32 years and before having to learn yet another companies system. It's really hard to believe that we've been here as long as we worked in LAS.  We want back out west so bad we can taste it. And it ain't like catfish either.  Blue water (a local unknown) and pine trees and no 100% humidity summers are calling our name. The target is north of Spokane so far.

Come on and say Hello at jimandsam@aol.com

Karolynn Johnson (Clark)
kcathome55@msn.com

I started with RW in Phoenix as a Res. Agent in June of 1976 because AA was going to move me to Dallas. I didn't want to go!  When an opening came available in Seattle as Res. Instructor, I quickly jumped (or rather, flew) at the chance. I loved the offices in PHX and SEA there were so many great folks.  In the spring of 1981, shortly after Republic took over, I headed off to DFW after all.  My husband got offered a job there.  And my now 26 year old daughter was born there.  While in the Big D, I worked for Muse Air - anyone remember them?  Didn't last long, but they were the first completely non-smoking airline; Wien Air Alaska hired me away from Muse to be Res. Mgr back in Seattle.  Yippee, got to go home again and then transferred to Reno as Station Mgr.  When my marriage ended and the company went out of business, I went back to SEA to work for - American Discovery Tours on Mercer Island, WA.  Another Bankruptcy, so I went back to what I studied to be - a teacher.  In Spokane, my home town, I spent 11 years teaching; started out teaching Travel and Tourism - not a booming industry! So with that program being cut and the next one, I went to work for the local utility company doing travel and now I am looking for another job as that one went away too.  What is with this travel industry? I still have pictures of the flight attendant training the managers got in San Mateo when our flight attendants were threatening strike.  Anyone remember that training?  Didn't we have fun, but we were a little scared our first flight!.

Started in 1965 in PDX. Moved to Astoria, Oregon before getting drafted and spending a year in Vietnam. Returned to become a Chief Station Agent in LAS. Became Station Manager in BUF, ORD and AUS. Left in 1990 after 25 years. Became a Fire Commissioner in Texas, and retired after 10 great years. Made every home game for the TexasLlonghorns for 10 years also! Own a luxury travel and cruise agency still in Texas, but live now near San Jose, Costa Rica. Denise(Republic BUF) and I just celebrated our 22^nd year of marriage, and thanks to our lovely daughter Shaundra, we have a wonderful grandson, Wyatt now living in Texas. Would love to show visitors the lovely country of Costa Rica.

Bil Jones
kd7s@verizon.net

John E. (Jack) Jones
abqnm@msn.com 

     I was hired in Jan. 1969 in YUM with Air West.  I moved around quite a bit  during the next few years - SFO, LAX, MKE, OAK, BOS, LAX again, DTW (8yrs), SFO, DTW (again), SFO, GPT (what was I thinking?!), then back to DTW one more time.  I retired from Northwest Airlines on May 30, 2003.  It was truly a great ride, making lots of wonderful friends along the way.  I had the privilege of working on some special projects over the years that took me to AMS in 1992 for the KLM Alliance training, and to NRT for a security detail in 1995 when the world first heard the name OSAMA BIN LADEN.  Of my 34 years with Air West, Hughes Air West, Republic and Northwest, 26 years were spent as a Supervisor.  I somehow gained a reputation of scaring new hires.  I realize how quickly the years pass every time I read names of old friends listed in "In Memoriam" in Passages.
    Since retiring in 2003, I am taking it easy in Jacksonville, FL, with my wife, Caryn, who is a CSA in JAX.  Too many years of cold MI winters (and springs) and we decided it was time head south.  I have 3 adult children, all happily married, and 7 grandchildren.  Unfortunately, I lost my daughter and best friend, Cheryl, to breast cancer in Oct. 2001.  I keep in close contact with her husband and kids in SJC.  We are looking forward to moving into a new home this fall and spending time with visiting family and friends.

Career in the RW family began in 1968 with Bonanza Airlines as an R&E mechanic. In 1970 I was part of the first overseas maintenance program along with my zen master Jack Zogg, Terry Negley and Jim Mcmanmon, in Rangoon , Burma.  I remained in Rangoon for two years and moved to Kathmandu, Nepal and helped startup their maintenance support operation.  From there I went to Monrovia, Liberia (which, by the way, sucks) to finish out my overseas assignments for RW.   I returned to Phoenix and was an avionics supervisor working for Roy Lecker.  In 1978 I moved to Renton, WA as the RW customer representative to Boeing to monitor the production of the B727 aircraft.  I returned to PHX and worked for Fred Smith in maintenance control  for a year.  In 1981 I went to McDonnell Douglas in Long Beach as a customer representative for Republic Airlines to monitor the production of the new MD80 aircraft.  About 2 months into that program, I assumed the additional role of section manager of maintenance at LAX (SNA, BUR, ONT).  In 1983 a man from Republic Airlines gave me a 15 year pin and my walking papers. LAX was closing, he said.  Did that ever happen??

Sigrid Jonsson/Herman
mystrkhat@aol.com
 

I was hired as a "stewardess" by WCA in November of 1966.  I left in February of 1968.  I was based both PDX and SEA(Boeing Field).  I flew for World Airways from 1979 untill 1986 at which time I was furloughed.  I was hired by Western Airlines in November of 1986 and am now with Delta Airlines through a merger in April 1987.  I am presently residing in the Northern California area with my husband. Love to hear from anyone who remembers me. 

Gerald Jorgensen
sejorge@msn.com
 

Joe Journiette
Aljean@aol.com

Since retiring from NWA in late 2003 as Director of Sales, Eastern Region, based in NYC, our decision to relocate to Daleville, Virginia was fairly simple because of family, etc.  We built our home on one of the most beautiful golf courses (Ashley Plantation) in Southwest Virginia.  Unfortunately, after moving into our home, we encountered a very difficult and major setback -- my younger brother was bitten my a brown recluse spider, which resulted into major complications due to a misdiagnoses by a couple of doctors.  Coupled with having several strokes and heart attack, my brother required constant attention, which was mostly provided by his wife and myself (and other family members).  I was blessed in the fact that I was available to not only provide him with the necessary attention, but also became a surrogate father to his two younger boys (now 6 and 12, respectively). 

During my brother's situation, we learned that my father was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer.  Obviously, it was time to focus on both my dad and brother.  All of my time, as well as Kathy's, was being directed to transporting both to/from doctors, cancer center and the hospital.  Sadly, after some very, very tough times, my brother passed away two years ago and my dad passed away last year.  As a family, we endured through some difficult times and, once again, I was blessed in the fact that we were here to respond to their needs. 

Currently, most of my time is now geared towards taking care of my mother and devoting most weekends to my brother's two boys.  Thus far, there's been no time to get back into the "rat race" or work.....and I really do not have any desire, which I'm sure you can understand.  Coupled with time spent with the boys, I make every attempt to "chase the little old white ball" at least twice weekly; I continue to run or jog approximately 30 to 35 miles weekly on the golf course path; play lots of competitive racquet ball and some tennis.  In other words, the activities I'm currently engaged in are what I once dreamed about.  I hope to continue this dream as long as the fun shall last.

Last but not least, Kathy and I are managing to do some traveling.  We also manage to spend time in AZ and the LA area with her family members.  We typically spend our time out west during the winter months, which has also been another blessing.  As you may know, AZ is an area where several former RW and RC colleagues reside.  Last year, we able to spend time with several former colleagues, as well as played a few rounds of golf.  Life has been good and seeing old colleagues again!

Willa ( Woods - Sollars) Judah
wrjudah@live.net