1965 - hired with Pacific Airlines as reservation & ticket agent at SFO.   Worked in reservations in the airport terminal & in the old G.O. on the airport frontage road.  Moved to San Mateo offices "on the hill" where I worked in CRC office.  Took furlough when S.M. offices closed.  Began work at SFO tkt ctr, gates. luggage service in 1980-81.  After back injury in 1985I came to work at SFO Cargo in 1987.  Anxiously awaiting the beginning of my retirement as soon as I hit the Lotto!  My email address is varnerc@aol.com

Vicki Varbel
varbel@earthlink.net

Chris Vorderkunz
cvorderkunz@jetscape.aero  

Nan Vogt
nmvogt@cox.net. 
  

Frank Walker
fwjrjw@ameritech.net
 

I started in YKM, Jul. 28, 1968 retired in IND Jul. 31, 2003. worked in YKM twice, EPH twice, PUW, YUM, SEA and IND. still keep in touch with Al Leonard, Mike Mikles, Mel Barrington, Larry Booth and Brent Choate. Had a great ride. Enjoyed working with some real great agents and crews.

Cheryl Wallington
ccwall@gv.net
 

I was a flight attendant from Oct. 69 to April 85 mostly  in SFO.  I took the early retirement to stay home and raise my 2 daughters. I worked part time as a teachers aide and after school tutor. Cap and I now live in Lake Wildwood, near Grass Valley/Nevada City, Ca. We love the active community and scenic surroundings. We just had our 1st grandson in April 05.

Sharon Walsh
s_walsh55@sbcglobal.net
 

I started flying in |September of 1969 and am still out there....many uniforms later....still serving the "chicken or beef"?  So far, Delta is OK but I don't really |feel like I work for them yet. Somewhere in between NWA and Delta, but hoping things settle down soon.

Ten years ago, I moved back to where it all started, only a few miles away from the Monterey, California airport. My very first flight airplane flight was out of Monterey to go to Phoenix to go to training at the  Bonanza training center. I live in Monterey County and plan on retiring here (hopefully soon).  The guest room is usually available and hope to see some of you here.  Sharon Lind Walsh

David Webb
serpenyo@hotmail.com
 

I started with Bonanza in February 1967 as a Stock Clerk in PHX. Went on to be an Expeditor and finally involved with the Overseas Operations Dept. I left in 1983 but I didn’t leave the business. From 83 on I’ve been involved in small upstart airlines as well as maintenance mod centers from PHX to HNL and into Eastern Europe and back. My international travel began with Hughes Airwest in 1975 in Saudi Arabia and has taken me full circle. I’m just finishing a one year contract that took me back to the Middle East as a Civilian Contractor in Iraq. The aviation industry has been good to me over the years and I have met and will remember a lot of good people.  

Al Wehrsdorfer
awehrsd@earthlink.net
 

I started with Hughes in March, 1978 as a part-time station agent in SJC.  From there I moved to DEN with Republic, then to MSP with a brief stint in PHX in 1983.  I've been in MSP full-time since January 1984.  In 1984 I moved into a management position and have worked in various capacities in Marketing -- Yield Management, Domestic and International Schedules, as well as in Ground Operations -- FUGU (Tokyo hub realignment and implementation), Staffing, Budgets and Contract Services.  Currently I'm back in the Marketing Group working as a Senior Specialist in Domestic Schedule Planning.  On the side I coordinate the NWA Language Society program which offers various language courses at various MSP buildings (I teach German and have taught Japanese).  My partner and I have a home in the St. Paul suburbs which we share with our African Grey parrot, Keiku.  We have enjoyed the benefits of travel to various parts of the world over the course of the years as well as taking advantage of the many activities available to us in our home state.

Ron Weinert
boldrider@hotmail.com

I came from West Coast Airlines, in the first big merger that made up AirWest (Pre Hughes Airwest).  I hired on as a DC-3 Copilot in October, 1959, and retired as a DC-10 and B-747 Captain with Northwest 34 1/2 years later (Feb 1994).  I live in Scottsdale and in Buhl, Idaho (near Twin Falls) and am still married to Ruth Jordan, who was a Bonanza Flight Attendant and is still flying.

Update 7/18/09:  My Dear Wife, Ruth Jordan, retired from NWA in January, 2008, after 50 1/2 years heaving herself up and down the aisles. She retired as working number 1, seniority #2.

Since last update I have ridden a motorcycle from Deadhorse AK to Ushuaia, Argentina and back (27,000 miles in 5 months), done an "Iron Butt 48 plus One" (rode a motorcycle through every mainland state and Alaska in under ten (10) days, and now am sailing a 40 foot sailboat on the San Juan Islands. Other than that, life is pretty dull...

Craig & Lynette (Darms) Weise
c.weise@earthlink.net
l.wesie@earthlink.net

 

Both Lynette and I worked for Hughes Airwest in the '70's and  were both in a June '73 flight attendant class.  I flew for 1 year and returned to school to finish my BA degree.  In 1977 I started working as a station agent for Hughes Airwest in Los Angeles...for approximately 7  months and transferred down to Orange County, California from late '77 to around '84 or so. From 1980 to 1984 I commuted from Seattle to Orange County...worked double shifts and returned home after 2 1/2 days of work....the best time ever...four days off each week!  I went to work for Federal Express for a time in Seattle from '84 to '88, then Horizon Air doing their package trips until '92 when I transferred over to Alaska Airlines to manage and develop their Mexico packages.  Did that for 6 years and quit to start our (Lynette & mine) own business.  I also do an radio/Alaska Airlines promotional consulting effort selling Mexico for Alaska Airlines. Lynette continued to fly until about '85, when she retired under the Hughes Airwest 10 year retirement program for F/A's.  She held various office manager jobs in the Seattle area until '98.  Lynette & Jeanette (Darms) were the first twins hired by Hughes Airwest, both received much notoriety for it.  They are mirror twins, when flying together they caused more then their share of confusion! Lynette and I left the "crowded" Seattle area in the summer of '98, purchased 3/4 of an acre in the foothills of the Cascades (about 32 miles east of Salem, Oregon).  We built a shop and house on the property and run our business out of the shop. Lynette, always being talented in the art area, has been doing ink & pen art work (since '94) we frame the art work (prints) with an opening for a diploma below (the art work is scenes on Pacific Northwest University campuses).  We currently offer 37 different displays for 37 schools, with more coming along all the time.  You can view our web page at: www.universitylithos.com  Our children are grown and moving along on their own. Alixandria was Chief of Staff for Congressman Adam Smith (9th district, WA) from her college graduation until just a few months ago. She was recruited by the DCCC (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee) to work on campaigns around the country. Our son, Aliya James Allen, is in his last year of course work at The George Washington University, to receive his PH D in English lit. He should start teach at the university level by the fall of 2006. No grandchildren yet.... can't talk about too much at they get mad at me! Maybe some day.

Mary Westbrook
 

In 1969 I was hired by Hughes Airwest as a flight attendant and was based in Las Vegas.  I flew until 1970.   I am Currenly working in Banking in Las Vegas as a Vice President of Business Development Officer.

Florence Wheeler
florencewheeler@aol.com

I worked for WCA in Seattle Res. at BFI from 1960 to 1964. Then I left the company for a couple of years to work as an engineering aide for Boeing in New Orleans on the Saturn 5 project. In 1966, I moved back to Seattle and re-hired with Airwest and worked there until I transferred to the CRS office in San Mateo 1977. I was one of the CRS supervisors there until I left the company in 1980. After leaving the company and spending a long spell in hell in Clearlake, CA, I moved to Santa Rosa in 1991 and worked there as the Sonoma County Planning Department secretary until my retirement in late 2004. Within two days of my official retirement, the Mayflower van hauled me back to the glorious State of Warrrrrshington, where I am now living happily ever after and remodeling a 50 year old house in Vancouver.......that's the "real" Vancouver, not the "fake" one up in Canada. I'd love to hear from anyone who I worked with either at BFI or SFO or any of the other station people I used to talk to all the time, even though I may have never met you in person. Write me either at florencewheeler@aol.com or elysian@q.com.

Jim Wells
WellsJames18@yahoo.com

Niki Whitcomb, (now Good)
baysball50@aol.com

I am a former Hughes Airwest flight attendant, 1978-1984. I was based in LAS, PHX, and was one of the hail and hearty DEN base crew!! Boy did we have fun. I miss 'greasy' Jerr's r-rated jokes, Ormsby McKnight's smooth landings, and Jay the scheduler whining at me.  I live in Newport Beach now, and every once in a while I run into a former Airwest or Republic employee, which is always a walk down memory lane! Love this web site.....

Barry White
Barry@atcphx.com
 

My career at Hughes Airwest was actually pretty short. I started my airline life with TWA in my hometown of Kansa City in 1966. Spent most of that time in Purchasing. When Hughes decided to move their Purchasing department from San Mateo to Phoenix in April of 1980, an opening came about. My folks had moved to PHX in 1962 so moving here had always sort of been in the plan. I interviewed for the job with Ed Dorris who some of you may remember. He hired me that day and 3 weeks later I was in my office at 3737 E. Bonanza Way. As the next few months passed several of my co-workers were offered positions in either ATL or MSP. Like a lot of other departments, some accepted and some left.

I was finally offered a move to MSP in late 1983. I declined. Stayed in the industry and ended up with America West from 87-01. Currently working for an FAA Repair Station in Tempe.

I really enjoyed my short time with Hughes. Coming from a monolith like TWA to a smaller more friendly group was a great experience.

Bill White
evermove@cableone.net
 

Started in 1968 as PHX F-27 F/O with Bonanza just prior to merge into AirWest. Furlough 1/1/70 for 51/2 years. Drove semis in road construction in AZ and hauling cattle all over the West. Recalled to Hughes in1975. After years of gear-jamming for a living, It was quite a sight the first time I saw one of our girls walk down the airstairs in cape and go-go boots! It was good to be part of this world again.  Upgraded to the DC-9 and moved from Phoenix to Prescott. Divorced and remarried in "82 and moved to DTW when Republic closed PHX in '85. Remained DC-9 Capt for reasons of seniority, love of the airplane and a preference for shorter legs with more landings. My back (and attitude) went south in '91. After a week of tests, Mayo said I was through. 

Back to AZ, built a house in Prescott. 24/7 of retirement too tense (don't golf, fish, fly, gamble,etc) so, after working with my house-framer son for a year, spent four summers building a log cabin in Montana. In '97 sold house & cabin and went to Sedona for 3 years. Then to Oregon (now my favorite place), 1+ yrs on the coast and 6+ in Portland area, while maintaining a second home in AZ for Barb who prefers to be close to family. Now back to one house in AZ  while we downsize, as in get rid of stuff. Then hope to get a small place in each state. 

Enjoy road travel, walking/hiking, reading, collecting (old photos, airline ephemera, old toy trucks,etc) and the natural world. Have also dabbled in political activism. Being in one place too long results in motion deprivation, and thus the email address.      Cheers, all!

Christina White
cwhitestamper@comcast.net

Julie White
kimballh@bellsouth.net
 

I was a flight attendant in the first class that was hired when Republic took over (1980)...I was based in Phoenix and Las Vegas, and have lost touch with so many wonderful friends. I live in Atlanta Ga....I own a special events facility in Historic Roswell Ga...My website is www.kimballhall.com  I can be reached through my contact page.

Thanks so much for your help!  Kindest regards...Julie

Dewayne Wilkinson
sdwilkie@gmail.com
 

I started for airwest in oct 1968 at spokane wa was there for 18 months then went to pasco wa for 7 years then to seattle for 7 and a half years then went on to msp until i retired in july 1999. my wife and i reside in pine city mn.

DEWAYNE WILKINSON
485 7th AVE. N. E.
PINE CITY MN 55063
320-629-8937

Eric Wilson
brdgtender@verizon.net

I had a wonderful career starting with Southwest Airway in 1957.  Although I continued  beyond RW, to RC and then NW, some of my fondest memories are with the Stations Department.   I feel fortunate to have many nice friends from those days.   During post RW,  I have always been proud and frankly, feel a littlespecial, to say that I had been with Hughes Airwest.   While with NW, I had a heart attack.   After working awhile longer, I decided  I’d be dead at the job if I continued, so I retired to my condominium on the inter-coastal waterway in Cortez, Florida  (between Tampa and  Sarasota). Recently  Susan and I married (June, 2001), the ceremony being performed while sailing the Gulf.  Currently I keep busy traveling, sailing and a little part-time Bridgetending (thus my e-mail address).  I walk to the bridge which leads to Anna Maria Island and open/close it, letting the sailboats pass by.  I too wish to thank Tom and the others that workso hard on this site.  Hello to all of you that I know.  

I began my career with RW in PHX Purchasing, where I first met my husband. Yes, he typed his own requisitions.   I moved to MSP after the acquisition by RC, working in Purchasing, then Reservations, then at MSP ATO, my current position location . I'm anxious to soon retire to Cortez, FL

Joe Wilson
JWilsonla@aol.com