JACK GARDNER 1952 - 1981 PILOT, CHECK AIRMAN, FLIGHT TRAINING INSTRUCTOR PHX DEN Here are some additional dates for the Obituary file. Pilots: Art Ashworth, died March 17, 1977 Wayne Aspinall Jr. died January 26, 1979 Jack Gardner, Died Feb 26, 1981 Max Gardner, Died Oct 8, 1988 F. "Jug" Jella, died May 14, 1993 John Myers, died July 20, 1994 G. "Swede" Nettleblad, died Feb 23, 1993 Ed Radford, died Oct 4, 1980 George Veldboon, died July 26, 1980 -Ken Schultz (4/26/99) I was leafing through the Obituary page today and although I can't supply any specific date info, on many of the pilot's listed there is no info at all. My memory is far from perfect but I thought I'd pass along what I remember about some of these guys. Jack Gardner: He suffered a mild stroke which stopped his flying the line but he became a simulator instructor and check airman for a few years afterward. Heart and circulatory problems finally got the best of him. Roy Williams: Roy was another line pilot who ended up in the training department and we were all the better for it. He was a good instructor and would take the extra pains to help when he could but would also let you work your own way out of situations so you wouldn't make that mistake again. Roy and Jack Gardner were good friends and were known to play some heavy poker, sip a lot of barleycorn and smoke a cigar or two whenever Marty Robbins, the entertainer, was in town. When Jack died, Roy carried his ashes to the top of Navajo Peak in AZ and distributed them to the winds. Not too long after, Roy's wife and son did the same thing for Roy. -H.A. "Frosty" Frost (11/26/99) "Jack knew he should have taken better care of himself and that he would live longer if he did. His comment to me, at our DEN QB meeting shortly before he ended up in the hospital the last time, was "What the Hell, I ain't gonna live forever and what livin' I do will be on my own terms." He did it his way. I had part ownership in a Lear 24 back in the mid 70's. Jack asked me if I would take Marty Robbins to Greeley for some concert he was doing. Jack went along with a close friend of both Jack's and Marty's. Right before we were to leave, Marty backed out but the rest of us went on. Jimmy Loflin was in the right seat as I recall. I landed on a runway shorter that I prolly should have and told Jimmy to be ready on the drag chute. In my anxiety of the fast approaching end of the runway I did what I was used to in the CV-580 and pulled the thrust levers into reverse. ...except there ain't any reverse in this particular Lear, so I shut down both engines and we coasted to the end and turned off. Jack said that was the first time he saw someone shut the engines off as part of the stopping process. ...and "was that part of the procedures for the Lear." "Of course it is," I replied! Loflin was laughing by now and Jack wasn't about to buy off on my reply. Marty must have had a good laugh at my expense when his entourage told him about their flight in the Lear. Jack, certainly never let me forget it. I remember getting a PC in the 737 simulator when he asked if I was planning on flaming out the engines to get me stopped on the runway... always ending his innuendo with his famous whistle... One time in the simulator, he and BJ Blackerby conjured up a stunt guaranteed to scare me into a clean set of drawers. During the obligatory V-1 Cut and engine fire, BJ tossed a cherry bomb into the back of the simulator. Not outside, Inside! They were very successful in their intent. Ol' Jack just did his famous whistle...." -Billy Walker (11/26/99) Email to Billy Walker & Ace Avakian: I ran across a 1959 article about a FL pilot named JE Gardner who served in the AZ legislature in 1959. Is this the same as Jack Gardner who died in 1982? Thanks, -Jake Lamkins (11/11/05) Yes - Jack Gardner was a State Representative as was Elmer Burson. One time Jack flew both Elmer and I (in a Beech Bonanza) and landed on a street that was blocked by police to visit and make a report on the Federal Penitentiary located in Florence AZ. It was the first and only time I have ever been in a prison. We ate there and saw how the convicts maintained their own farms, etc. It was most interesting. Prior to coming to work for Frontier, Jack Gardner was with the Vice Squad in Phoenix and as a result, knew quite a few police officers in various branches. Jack introduced me to the State Aeronautics Commissioner, (Jim Vercellino) who told me and recommended my son to go to Cochise College in Douglas AZ. It was the best thing that happened for my son. He not only learned to fly, but learned how to weld, engine mechanics, etc. I really enjoyed my tenure in the Phoenix domicile - especially knowing the area as an Aviation Cadet at Thunderbird II and as a single engine fighter pilot graduate from Luke Field (P40). I could tell you story after story about Jack Gardner and our trips together in the DC3 days at PHX. -Ace Avakian (11/11/05) I was visiting with Jack not long before his final illness. The doctors had told him that he could live a lot longer if he would quit the booze and cigarettes. He said the "hell with that." He had a funny little whistle that was a combination whistle and whinney and let loose with one as he raised his glass. He was quite a character. But I will never understand his hurry for his Flight West. The early simulators weren't like the advanced Level 4 devices of today. The visual and the motion was not synchronized very well. When I started checking out in the 737 the simulator was giving me fits at first. Jack straightened me out quickly. He had a nice knack at instructing and was very laid back. -Billy Walker (11/17/05) Five photos of Gayle Deedman, Stewardess Shari Salsbury, Dick Cochran and Gayle Deedman Gayle Deedman, Jack Gardner, Joyce Gonzales, seated Susie Landis Shari Salsbury and Gayle Deedman, delivery of B-727 (about 1967) Photo of Gayle Deedman and Susie Landis in Stew room Gayle Deedman 1967 -Bonnie Dahl (7/4/12) Here's a pic of FL Pilot Jack Gardner at the Nashville Acuff/Rose Golf Tournament in 1980 -Cal Wolfe (7/6/14) Such a great and charming guy. You are missed. Considered him a friend, only saw him when he was passing thourgh Phoenix on a trip. Always a smile. -Ginger Treptow (7/6/14) He was a good friend of my dads and got me hired! Great man. He would take my dad down to the springs and do touch and goes in the middle of the night -Lisa Kerr Zeman (7/6/14) My father was a captain and my mom a stewardess prior to their marriage. My father is Jack Gardner. My mom is Beverly Fahnestock. She flew until 60/61 I think. I grew up as an airline brat and miss many of the old timers -Tara Lamoreaux (9/12/16) Your dad's memorial webpage is at http://LAMKINS.tripod.com/Jack_Gardner.html Email me anything you would like to add -Jake Lamkins (9/12/16) J E GARDNER PHX co-pilot per the Nov 1955 Frontier Roster. J E GARDNER DEN reserve captain DOB 5/8/24 DOH 5/13/53 per the Feb 1960 Frontier Roster. He left flight status in 1973 due to heart surgery and went into the flight training department per the Apr 1973 article. J E GARDNER DENDT - Flight training, no title Shown in the 1977 - 1979 Frontier telephone directories. Not shown in the Dec 1980 telephone directory. -Jake Lamkins (9/22/16) Photos from 1964 and 1967 reprinted with permission from the book FROM THE COCKPIT TO THE GALLEY by Bonnie C. Dahl and Patty A. McNeill. -Jake Lamkins (9/22/16) FLacebook - FL Club FLight West: Jack Gardner DEN pilot & flight training instructor Jack Gardner's memorial webpage has been updated. 16 items added and the webpage overhauled. Still need an obituary for Jack. -Jake Lamkins (9/22/16) He was a good friend of my dads and got me the job. -Lisa Kerr Zeman (9/22/16) Jack was a Great Friend. -Cal Wolfe (9/22/16)