Over the past year, the Prez Captain Sez column has been
attempting to encourage our members to consider attending the
2018 convention to mingle with old (not pertinent to age) friends
and past acquaintances.
This year, we had the lowest attendance compared to past years,
but somewhat higher than we had originally anticipated. Bob,
our convention Chairperson/Vice president provided us with an
excellent comedian “Mule Skinner Mike” on Saturday night for
fun and laughter. During the convention dinner on Sunday
evening, we were surprised with another superb comedian with
an original Southern drawl followed with an upbeat visit by our
own George Burns.
Captain Don Lovern and his wife presented a plaque to “Bob”
designating him as a “Honorary Captain for his many efforts on
behalf of the National Airline Buccaneers”.
As a special note, Mary (Cahill) Daniel and her husband had
donated nine large boxes of National Airlines memorabilia to the
NAL Buccaneers and convention. Funds collected for the many
items in this generous gift package were added to the club
treasury. “Thank you, Mary and Danny”.
Hoping that our members may consider and be able to attend the
2019 convention for great fun and social interaction as we see
those “old” friends once again.
NATIONAL BUCCANEERS
NEWSLETTER June 2018
Prez Captain Stan Sez
Officers are: President: Capt. Stan
Barfield
VP/Convention Chair:
Bob Pierson
Treasurers: Bob and Sharon
Thrasher
Bob Pierson
Sharon and Bob Thrasher
Past President:
Capt. John Wentworth &
Linda Wentworth
Editor: Gigi Cockes
from the
HART
Airplane and Airport winners from May 2018
The May Mystery Airport, Ft. Myers Page Field, stumped all but the following
regular sharpies: Bob Massey, John Wentworth, Stan Barfield, Dusty Rhodes, Bob Pierson, Vince Wynne, Gary Snodgrass and Alan Gee.
The May Mystery Airplane crowd crashed and burned. Only three
people got the 1920 Curtis Lark. Vince Wynne, Gary Snodgrass and Alan Gee.
Hard at work again!
On a sad note:
Bill Griscom visited his friend Ernie Ellison in
the hospital shortly before he passed away.
NAL Friends to the end!
June Mystery Airplane and Airport
Email me with your answers! Hart Kelley
June Mystery Airport This month we change up from the diagram to an
"old" photo of an airport.
The June Mystery Airplane was a late WWII entrant and never saw service. Only 35 were built..
“Old” Friends By: Hart Kelley
Sitting down to write this article the definition of the word “old” didn't seem to be much of a
mystery. Wrong again sky king. Looking to Webster, actually just the dictionary app on my
smart phone, it was amazing to see 28 definitions of this tiny three-letter word. Come to find
out this little word has fangs, and reading on, bruised my tender aging ego. The definitions
started out gently with far advanced in years, it quickly got personal with, relating to the latter
part of one’s life and looking to be far advanced in years. After taking a brief time out in front
of the bathroom mirror, the personal attacks had only just begun. The next few darts were like a
Phyllis Diller monolog. When I read, having been aged for a comparatively long time and
having been in existence since the distant past, reality started to set in, but they had saved the
real insults till the end. Right there as I scrolled down were the following: prehistoric, ancient
(ouch), deteriorated (Oh) dilapidated (ok that one really hurt.)
After a few deep breaths I remembered being told, “age is just a number.” Wow, that feels
better already, but maybe it’s just the Aleve I took while looking in the mirror a few minutes
ago. Anyway, either way, back to the original reason for writing this note. Seeing “old’ friends
is what the annual convention is really all about and why I block off the date on the calendar as
soon as the date is announced. Sure, there have been times when it has been scheduled at an
inopportune time, but unless it was a real “life event,” the “old” friends won out. I tell myself
this is the Mature, Sensible and Wise part of the “old” definition. So, to each of you, the good
“old” days need to be remembered and your “old” friends will not be around forever.
This year’s annual convention in Boca Raton was bitter sweet for many of us who attended.
The turn out was the lowest ever. That was not the bad part. The bad part was so many of the
“old” friends must not have wanted to be with those of us “old” friends who were there. Kinda
hurts around the edges a little. I know, the dog ate the invitation, but let’s make it a point to put
the invitation to next year’s convention out of his reach and also mark it on a calendar as soon
as possible. We are “old” you know, and there is a possibility of forgetting to…………….
Oh well, you get the idea. We missed you. We hope you missed most of us enough to make
just a little more of an effort next year…
The Buccaneers leadership sent out a survey via
Email in hopes your answers will help them
increase the turn out next year and shape the
convention format. So far, of the 364 members
on the Email list, 188 have opened the Email, but
as of this writing only 56 people have responded.
The Buccaneers is YOUR club, and your input is
essential to its success. Please take 5 minutes of
your busy day and help your club.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C2THDTK
POST SCRIPT
Better show up
next year. We
too have a spy!
Photos from
Bob Thrasher here with
his son John
Attendees:
Bob & Sharon Thrasher John & Linda Wentworth
Don & Doris Morgan Jack & Grace Theisen
Frank Savino Ronald Chatlos
John Bowling Bill West
Larry Helms Stan Barfield
Bill Sheleck Bob Martin
Steve Barkow Dan Pierce
Dave Blessing Joe Fricks
Bill Griscom
Frank Savino and Jack Theisen won the 50/50 drawing.
Bill Griscom gave us an account of his sad last visit to our friend Ernest Ellison along with a
photo of them together. I will send a copy to you of it. As you may know Ernest has flown
West on May 04th. He will be missed but not forgotten.
Central Florida Buccaneers Luncheon May 2018
Maritza waits
tables for the Bucs
each month at the
Golden Corral in
Ocala, FL
NAL Buccaneer’s Boca Raton Convention 2018 Photos
Photos from Bob Thrasher, thanks Bob!
Saturday night Entertainment! Bob Pierson helps
“Mule Skinner Mike” with duet!
NAL Buccaneer’s Boca Raton Convention 2018 Photos
Annual Meeting Sunday Morning But wait there is more!
Bob Pierson Convention Chair
Nancy and Capt. Don Lovern
Don may be close to oldest &
longest Convention attendee
F/A Carolyn
Clarkson -Veazey
F/A Kay Strauss–
Hospitality Room Capt. Gary Morton–
comes from furthest
distance, ~Montana~
Capt. Howard and Jenny
Morgan– newly weds
Frank and Mary Tirb Steve & Linda Mills
NAL BUCS –emails
Presiding over the
meeting is President
Capt. Stan Barfield
F/A Linda Miller-
Claytor
Paul Barker F/A Debby Drab
Sherry Patterson Diana Dresher Linda Metts- Maselli Capt. Dan Pierce
Capt. Vince Wynne and
Hart Kelley Bob and Sharon
Thrasher
Ruth Wolf and Vince
Falletta
Joe Claytor and John
Cockes
June and Hart Kelley Paula Sheehan F/A Beth Schwalbert Capt. John and Linda
Wentworth
Thanks for coming to the Annual Meeting and indulging me with some fun
photos of the participants!
There will be more photos of the banquet in next month’s newsletter.
Stay tuned! Gigi
We live in Macon County and
Jim & Dottie are in Jackson!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CAPT. JIM SPILLIS WHO JUST TURNED 90 YEARS YOUNG!!
LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE CONNECTING WITH YOUR NAL FRIENDS AND TAKE
A PICTURE! Send to Gigi Cockes [email protected] and please add NAL in the
subject line. Deadline is the 27th of each month. Thanks!!
Dottie and Jim Spillis with Gigi Cockes
While visiting our grandson, Ryan Cockes for his High
School Graduation, Grandfather Jon Cockes took out some
time to have lunch with an old NAL, PAA, UAL friend
Capt. Jim Bishop in Peachtree City, GA (taken by the
server on break from college and Ryan’s older brother,
Nathan Cockes).
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS GIGI?
Capt. Jon Cockes and Capt. Jim Bishop at
Crosstown Grille in Peachtree City, GA
https://crosstowngrille.com
You can take part in the news updates!
Gone but not forgotten
Obits from Capt. Bill Mauldin
Obituary of Stewardess Betty Jo Alene Prevatt
Betty Jo Alene Prevatt, 91, passed away May 4, 2018. She
was born July 2, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois and resided in
Orange Park, Florida.
Betty flew to Jacksonville after attending college to
become one of the first “stewardesses” with National
Airlines.
Arrangements by HARDAGE-GIDDENS RIVERMEAD
FUNERAL HOME, 127 Blanding Blvd, Orange Park,
Florida 32073. Please leave words of comfort at
www.hardage-giddensrivermead.com.
Obituary of Flight Attendant Richard Madan
Richard Madan, April 7, 1950 - April 25, 2018
Former NAL flight attendant and training instructor,
Richard Madan graduated in NAL class of April 27, 1973
then joined PAA in the merger in January 1980 merger. He
passed away on April 25, 2018 following a stroke.
He is survived by his sister Karen.
Obituary of Captain Gordon Bigger, NAL, PAA, DAL
Gordon Bigger. April 15, 1937 - May 12, 2018
Captain Gordon Bigger was hired by National Airlines on
August 16, 1965. He flew Captain for National, Pan Am,
and Delta.
Several days before his death, Gordon suffered a stroke in
Miami and never regained consciousness. Services were
private and consisted of close friends and family.