CHICK STEVENS 1948 - 1982 PILOT & FOUNDER/EDITOR OF FRONTIER MAGAZINE DEN Charles A. "Chick" Stevens. Stevens determined his aviation career at the age of seven and later took his pilot instruction at Ray Wilson's Park Hill Airport. He soloed in 1941 in a J-3 Cub. During WWII, he flew the China-Burma Hump as a C-46 Commando pilot and received honors from the USAF and the Republic of China. After graduating from the University of Denver, his career began with Monarch Airlines and lasted through the company's merger into Frontier Airlines until retirement. Stevens' accomplishments include flight manuals for the DC-3, the Corvair 340s and 580s, the Boeing 727 and 737. His aviation journalism and writings to promote safe flying have earned him numerous awards. Citation at Colorado Aviation Historical Society's Hall of Fame. (6/8/00) With deep regret, I inform you of the Gone West of Captain Chick Stevens...early this morning. There will be a service and interment at Fairmount here in Denver, this Friday (hopefully). I say hopefully because the family is hoping to get permission to bring Chick back to Colorado from Arizona where he had been for the last few months. For reasons of their own, AOL will no longer permit me to send my messages to our entire Frontier group as I used to. They've had some problems...so I am asking you to whom I've addressed this message to, to inform the troops in your area, if you will...I'd appreciate it. Exact time and exact location of services, etc. will be forthcoming and I will advise you soon as I can. I appreciate your cooperation and I'm sorry I have to do it this way. In order to keep everyone advised of situations such as this, I will be working on a FAL Web Page where we can all (individually) check the page for any late news...good or bad. Here in DEN, we have a phone tree to advise all those that do not have e-mail access. Thank you for your cooperation. Regretfully, Ace Avakian (6/4/01) Jake, really sorry to hear of Chick's passing. Was a nice guy. Used to dispatch him when I worked in Den. Have forwarded your email to all the 'oldies' on my email list, ie, the AOL people. Later, Bill Fleming (6/5/01) Jake, I will get the message out to all FAL Pilots I worked with at UPS. Chick was a Great Pilot & Person to Fly & Work with. The Late George Arwood & I worked with Chick in the Pilot Trng Dept & he would ask us to proof read his WHY Magazine that later was renamed the FRONTIER Magazine.. Frank Meyer (6/5/01) Hi Ace, So sorry to hear about Chick. He was a good man and a great instructor. Thanks for the good work you do keeping us all informed. Ernie & Merrilee Lingren (6/5/01) Thanks for the message. I will be out of town on Friday, but would have attended otherwise. Roxie Pool (6/5/01) Thank you for the email regarding "Chick Stevens". He was a good man. You probably do not remember me I was a management type that started as a Presidents Assistant. Chick was one of the most respected people that I have ever met in the airline industry. I wish his family well. Regards, Dan McCauley (6/5/01) To Chuck Stevens & family: My heartfelt sympathy & condolences to your entire family on your loss. I just finished going thru about 100 copies of FRONTIER magazine that I purchased to get material for the FRONTIER NEWS newsletter. What a legacy Chick left! He was just a tremendous guy! Jake Lamkins (6/5/01) Frontier 1964-86 Posted at the FL online club: Ironically, I was finishing up going through about 100 issues of FRONTIER magazine that I bought from Joe & Pat Craze when Ace sent word of Chick's death. While I never knew Chick personally, what he did with FRONTIER magazine was a tremendous accomplishment. After going through all those issues, I felt I knew him because he put so much of himself into it. My sympathies to all his friends and family. Jake (6/5/01) Recently, I had received a package from Chick Stevens. It was full of some wonderful Frontier memorabilia. So, I sent him a Thank You note which was later returned by the Post Office. Then, I tried calling his son, Chuck, but had a wrong number. Then, just 4 or 5 days ago, Jake Lamkins was trying to contact Chick and not having any luck. So, I called AWA to see if Chuck (AWA B-757 captain) had a new number. He did, and I called and spoke with Chuck who handed the phone to ol' Chick and we had a nice visit. Chuck and his wife, Jean, had recently moved Chick from Aurora down to Mesa, AZ. to live with them. Chick told me he was suffering from a number of ailments amongst which was Altzheimers albeit he knew me right off and said he still remembered most everyone. I thanked him for his thoughtfulness in sending me the package of Frontier memorabilia and told him I would get over to see him when I returned from my trip to NYC. That would have been today! When Cheryl picked me up at the airport a while ago, she said Ace had sent an e-mail message about Chick's flight West. I then called Chuck who said the services will be in Denver this Friday June 8th. The services will be held at 11 AM at the Fremont Mortuary with the burial at E. Hampton and Yosemite cemetery. Viewing will be at 10 AM. Fairmont Mortuary is located at E Alemeda and Quebec St. Jean said that Chuck was on a trip to Baltimore and that Chick had called for some assistance. While she was helping him, his heart suddenly stopped and he was gone by the time he slumped to the floor. Chick always figure out a way to make things work out. It was certainly his preference over the coming Altzheimers situation. He had a full life and many of his former students will continue to pass along some great teachings Chick left us with. Chick turned 79 this past March. I have attached a photo of Chick, Floyd Ririe, and me taken when Chick did a story in his Frontier Magazine on the early airmail days. Floyd, Frontier's first pilot retiree, put on legendary Jack Knight's leather jacket (the same one he wore on his historic flight) and sat in the WWI Jenny that hung in the old Stapelton Terminal. Jack Knight's jacket was given to me by my father who was close to Jack Knight. Knight died in Cheyenne in 1945. The Smithsonian would not accept the jacket as it was not in mint condition. There were a couple of tears and a stain or two as well. At Chick's suggestion, I gave the jacket to Frontier's Dan Todd. Todd, a VP in the Feldman era, presented the jacket to the city of North Platte. The jacket is now in a glass case at the terminal there. Blue Skies & Tailwinds... Billy Walker (6/5/01) Sorry to hear it. I would like to have the opportunity to say a few words about him at the Service. Richard Brice - FAA POI (6/5/01) Jake, Thank you so much for the Forwarded message. Chick Stevens was the public face for the Frontier Pilot. His writings were eloquent...and brought Aviation to the flying public. Another Frontier Pilot get's his last pair of Wings. Jim Baumann (6/5/01) Thanks Jake, really sorry to hear about Chick. Bob Nelson (6/5/01) Jake, I just got your E-mail about my Dad, Chick. Thanks for your thoughts. He died peacefully and without pain here in my home in Phoenix. He just did it faster than anyone dreamed. But he went on his own terms. He was determined to cheat Alzheimers, and he did. I'm sending you the most recent picture of I have of him (Feb 2001). Thanks. Chuck Stevens (6/6/01) I'd appreciate the pic you mentioned. I have one from the mid 1980s (from the magazine) posted at the FL online club. Several Frontier folks have asked about contacting the family. May I give out your e-mail and/or postal address either individually or at the Club? Chick had a ton of friends, as I'm sure you know. Jake (6/6/01) Thanks Ace, I will plan to attend any services the family sets up. Chick certainly put up a valiant fight as life tried to keep him down. I remember going to his place with my dad to visit. Chick's physical handicap frustrated him I know but his memories were always very clear and enjoyable to me. Steve Graham (6/6/01) Hi Jake Sorry to get the message about Chick Stevens. Peggy Spencer FL Res (6/6/01) Dear Jake, Thanks for forwarding the email. I was sorry to hear about Chick. The reason I looked up FAL websites to start with was my interest in reading his old articles about the Flying Tigers. Do you have an address to write the family? Take care, Wendy Erich (6/6/01) Chick's son Chuck says you can e-mail the family at SeaEss@compuserve.com Jake (6/6/01) Heard about Chick. He checked me out in the 727 in April '68 after FAL bought us. He was a good old boy. Heard he had alzheimer's. Clyde Hart (6/6/01) Sir, Thank you for the update on Capt. Stevens. He was a great man and a pioneer. With a heavy heart, Lance Light (6/6/01) I have the June 13th "Pilot's life one of service and joy" article about Chick Stevens that was in the Denver Post. Did you get a copy...or want it? Pat Craze (6/19/01) No, I haven't seen it. I'd like to see it. Can you scan it & email to me? Jake (6/19/01) Jake, My Brother-in-Law sent me this clipping via snail-mail. You may already have it but here it is anyway. Frosty (Article from the June 13, 2001 DENVER POST) (6/19/01) Thanks a lot, Frosty. I'd been trying to get it. I'll post it at Chick's webpage. Jake (6/20/01) Jake, Thank you for placing the Denver Post article about Captain Chick Stevens. I flew Flight Engineer for Chick on many Training flights & observed his special techniques as an Instructor. He never had harsh words when the pilot he was instructing or checking didn't quite perform a maneuver the way it was to be flown. His usual soft way of correcting the situation just allowed the pilot to make the maneuver successful on the next attempt. At the end of the flight he always made sure that all of the crew were taken care of especially the FE & would meet with the Ground Crews & thanked them for their part of the team. I admired Chick for his devotion to FRONTIER & his family. Frank Meyer (6/21/01) Jake, That was a good article. Grand Mesa is about 45 minutes drive east of Grand Junction. Its world largest flat top mountain (10,000 ft) with over 200 lakes. I am pretty sure that he always flew from GJT to DEN to look for a favorite fishing spot from the air. Dave Bottinelli (6/21/01) Check GOLDEN AGE OF FLYING book (10/20/04) C A STEVENS Born 24 Mar 1922 Died 04 Jun 2001 Age 79 At 85207 (Mesa, Maricopa, AZ) SSN isued in Colorado -SSDI (7/4/05) C.A. STEVENS Seniority date of 8/12/48 on the 9/1/72 FL/ALPA seniority list. He's not on the 9/1/81 list. -Jake Lamkins (3/18/07) I first met Chick when I was a Flight Instructor at Hayden Field that was located on 46th Avenue and Dahlia Street here in Denver, Colorado. The year was 1946 and we both had been recently released from active duty from the U.S Army Air Corps. The field was named after George Hayden - an early aviation pioneer. Besides our flying school, was Vest Aircraft - which was a facility dealing in WWII surplus trainer-type aircraft; i.e. North American AT-6, Vultee BT 13 and Fairchild PT 19 and PT 26 aircraft. My duties as Flight Instructor was teaching former discharged military personnel to fly under the GI Bill of Rights. In addition, to check out those that purchased the warsurplus training airplanes. At this point in time, we were setting up an amplifier in the front seat of a 1929 Brunner-Winide -Bird biplane. I was to fly the airplane from the rear seat and with microphone in hand - make idle talk, in-flight, to check the possibility of advertising from the air for restaurants, special events, etc., over the greater Denver area. Curiosity overcame Chick and here is where we first met. He asked all sorts of questions as to how, where and why we were doing this. From that day on we became very close friends. Later, when I hired on with Monarch Air Lines, I was happy to reestablish our friendship. We had not been in contact for about 2 years prior to this time. Oh.. .about the biplane.. I could tell we were doing good as far as the audio qualities of the amplifier installed in the front seat.. by the vibration that I felt throughout the airplane in flight while talking. Further, the people on the ground looking up and hearing all the chatter made for good publicity. I didn't know what to say but I would recite Phil Harris - Dark Town Poker Club - and that would get all sorts of attention. BUT.. .soon after, Denver passed a Noise Ordinance which put a stop to our venture and we were unable to get it off the ground.. .no pun intended! -Ace Avakian FARPA Magazine Feb 2009 FLacebook on 4/9/21 George Fay A good friend and a great pilot and mentor. Ginger Treptow Chick Stevens was an awesome guy and had a heart of gold. Soft spoken but never heard him say an unkind word about anyone. I never met his wife . We had such a great “ Crew” of Pilots in Phoenix. I got to see many of them make their “ final “ Flight before retiring!