SPAR News

*Member Directory

The previous directories have been combined into one. All SPAR members, please check that your information in the new directory is correct. Please inform us of any changes or corrections so that you receive notices about the reunion and other matters.

Captain David O. Hill, the Seaboard historian, has prepared a comprehensive status report about his ongoing efforts to preserve Seaboard's legacy. You can read his report here.

Thanks to the efforts of Capt. Nick Tramontano, 13 SPAR members got together for lunch in Danbury CT on Oct 16, 2008. Ten photos have been posted in the album section here.

A question has been asked whether any Seaboard aircraft were hit by ground fire during the Vietnam war. Please let me know if you have any first-hand information about such an incident.

Thanks to the efforts of Capt. Lou Furlong and Capt. Paul Cellecz, the 2009 reunion arrangements have been made and the information has been mailed to the membership. An e-mail message with a link to the documents has also been sent to the membership. If you do not receive both shortly, check that your information is correctly listed in the new combined directory.
*There is a typo on the printed registration form. The area code for the first reservation number should be 877, not 787. The number is correct on the main document.

Ed Bouvier suffered a heart attack. He had a stent installed and is doing fine. Reported by Capt. Paul Cellecz

Welcome to Ray Molho who has joined SPAR. His contact info is in the directories.

Capt. Lou Furlong has updated his videos and picture albums from various fly outs over the past few years.

The main page is here.

A link to the main page has been added to the Members' Activities section.

Elisabeth Halsmer, 3rd-generation airline pilot

The July/August issue of Airliners has an article about Joe Halsmer's granddaughter Elisabeth. She is a B-727 first officer at Amerijet. Her father and several of her aunts and uncles are airline pilots. There is a photo of Elisabeth here.

In June, 2008, Capt. Lou Furlong took a trip in his airplane through the back country of Idaho and Montana. He has posted 51 minutes of great video of the trip on his Web site at

http://gallery.me.com/lou46#100053.

You can see his main gallery at

http://gallery.me.com/lou46#gallery

In May and June, 2008, Capt. David Hill took a 6-week trip to explore Canada's boreal forest. He slept in his Chevy Suburban for all but three of the nights. His account and photos, including some very nice ones of birds, have been posted in the Members' Activities section here.

Aer Lingus magazine

The April/May 2008 issue of Cara, the Aer Lingus in-flight magazine, has an article commemorating the 50th anniversary of Seaboard's first flight for Aer Lingus. Some of the information in the article was provided to the author by Capt. Bill Eastwood. The article has a photo showing the entire crew. I requested permission from the publisher to use the photo on the SPAR Web site, but there has been no response. I have, however, added to the information on the Aer Lingus page.

Lou & Kathy Furlong's 12-day trip to Ireland.

Click here for Lou's report and two photos.

2008 reunion photos

100 photos showing all of the 101 attendees have now been posted on 6 pages starting here. They were taken by Pinky Clark, Lou Furlong, Ted Loubris, Christl Mathis, Dianne Moore, Bob Prichard, Arnie Visnick, John Willmott, and me. The section is finished unless there are any more photos submitted.

Latest additions:

4/29 Ten by Pinky Clark on pages 4, 5, and 6.

Be sure to look at the three great group pictures submitted by Lou Furlong at the bottom of page 3 (my favorites).

I have also posted a short guide for photographers who generously contribute photos to the web site. I would particularly like to get photos of Seaboard people who died and are not presently shown in the Memorial section.

Staff change

Capt. Paul Cellecz has graciously agreed to continue serving as treasurer. We all owe him a debt of gratitude.

Photos of eight additional items have been added to the memorabilia section, courtesy of Capt. David O. Hill. Two of the new items are on page 1 of the memorabilia section and six are on page 2.

Thirty-one photos taken by Art Koutras during the Vietnam years have been posted on two pages in the album section. Many of the people in the photos are seen on the Web site for the first time. The photos can be seen here.

Please send corrections.

In the memorial section, a photo of Jack Lundelius has been posted, courtesy of Art Koutras.

The photo of Capt. Bob McAllister on his memorial page has replaced with a better one, courtesy of Art Koutras.

The photo of "PX" Weber on his memorial page has replaced with a better one, courtesy of Art Koutras.

A memorial page has been added for Joseph Cannon who served as treasurer of Seaboard. There is presently no photo, but one will be added if it becomes available.

A memorial page has been added for Margot Burke. A nice tribute has been contributed by Pat Rothacker.

A memorial page has been added for Wallace Neth, one of the founders of Seaboard.

A search of online records has turned up dates of birth and death missing from the memorial section for 63 individuals. The additions are indicated here.

Capt. Pinky Clark has identified 14 additional people shown in the photo of the 1951 Christmas party of the Pacific division of Seaboard in Santa Monica, CA.

The memorial page of Capt. Joe Pickerel has been enhanced with information about his military service and a photo of him then. Several people who contributed to the page are credited at the bottom.

At the 2008 reunion, Capt. Don Blackburn gave me some very nice photos of Seaboard Connies and one of Seaboard's only DC-3. Don also gave me some largely-forgotten information about the DC-3. Although we knew it had been operated under a wet lease to Luxembourg Airlines, we knew little about its operation on Seaboard's routes. See the photo and information here. I've also replaced a photo of 04C with one Don gave me.

Art McNamara

Art McNamara died of cancer on July 26, 2008. He was 80 years old.

Reported by Bob Prichard

Ray Powell

Ray Powell, of Sparta, TN, died at approximately noon on Wednesday, Sept. 24th en route to the hospital after having had a series of breathing problems. Exact cause of death is still not determined. He was 78 years old.

His wife, Margaret stated he will be cremated and that there will not be a memorial service.

Reported by Barbara & Hilary Leiss

Mack Murphree

About 0630 on the morning of August 22nd, Mack took off from North Las Vegas Airport aboard a Velocity 173 RG he was test flying. Authorities said the pilot had difficulty gaining altitude and radioed the control tower that he was going down. The aircraft crashed into a house causing an intense fire. Mack was 76 years old.

Notes and letters of condolence may be sent to:

Mrs. Hilde Murphree
203 Doolittle Ct.
Dayton, NV 89403

There is a newspaper article about the crash at

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/aug/22/fire-department-reports-possible-plane-crash-home/

A memorial service for Mack was held at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic in Church Carson City, NV at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 10th.

Refreshments followed at Dayton Country Club, 51 Palmer Dr., Dayton, NV 89403

Reported by Peter Okicich

Capt. Dudley Boleware

Capt. Dudley Boleware died early this morning, July 28, 2008, of prostate cancer at the hospice in Las Vegas. He was 68 years old. Per his wishes, he will be cremated. A memorial service will be held. When I get the info, I will notify the membership.

His family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made in his name to the

Nathan Adelson Hospice
3391 N. Buffalo
Las Vegas, NV

Al Fellows

Al Fellows died on May 24, 2008 in Charlotte NC. The funeral was on May 27. There is presently no photo on his memorial page, but one will be added if it becomes available.

Lloyd Churchey

Lloyd Churchey died in Jackson MI on Mar. 12, 2008. Funeral services will take place on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 2 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1505 W. Michigan Ave., Jackson, MI with Pastor Erick Johnson officiating. His family will receive friends on Saturday from 1 p.m. until the time of service. Interment will take place at Roseland Memorial Gardens, Jackson, MI. The family suggests memorial contributions to Great Lakes Hospice or Immanuel Lutheran Church, Jackson, MI. Friends may send condolences or share a memory with the family at www.wetherbyfuneralhome.com.

Wetherby Funeral Home 517-787-7511

Barbara Melvin

Barbara Melvin died of ovarian cancer on Jan. 24, 2008. She was 64 years old. She is survived by her daughter Julianne. Reported by Jackie Lloyd-Schwanky

Notices previously listed here about members of the Seaboard family who died have been transferred to their memorial pages or to this page.

For the memorial section (with some pictures and biographical information) for members of the Seaboard family who died, click here.

News	Revised Nov. 18, 2008
Recent Deaths	Revised Oct. 9, 2008
Memory Lane	Revised Oct. 21, 2008

SPAR NEWS