JAMES MCELDOWNEY 1942 - 19?? CO-FOUNDER ARIZONA AIRWAYS PHX OBITUARY James Eugene McEldowney Jan. 28, 1915-Feb. 26, 1999 James Eugene McEldowney of Corvallis died Friday at Good Samaritan Hospital. He was 84. He was born in Monmouth to Thomas and Elsie Shattuck McEldowney. He graduated from Independence High School and attended Oregon Normal School. He owned and operated a Siberian ice cream shop in The Dalles. In 1941, he obtained a commercial and instructor's flight rating, and with a partner formed a Navy flight school in Safford, Ariz., where he acted as chief pilot and operations manager. The Navy terminated these contract flight operations in 1944 and he went on active duty as a Navy flight training officer until the end of World War II. He married Anita Stolp in 1945. After the war, he was a partner in Arizona Airways, an aircraft operation at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, until 1952 when he sold his share and returned to Oregon. He operated an aerial photography business, Western Ways Inc., with a partner until he entered the real estate business in 1956. He established Town and Country Realty in 1958 and operated the business until selling it in 1982. He was a past president of the Corvallis Chamber of Commerce and co-founded Corvallis Ambassadors with Jim Barrett. He was active in numerous civic and professional organizations. One of his more memorable Rotary experiences was attending the first established Russian Rotary Club in Moscow in 1990. He belonged to OSU Beaver Club, Grace Lutheran Church in Corvallis, Corvallis Country Club and the OSU Educational Foundation Roundtable. He enjoyed golf, traveling, fishing and athletic events. In recent years, he particularly enjoyed being involved with his grandchildren and attended many activities and games in which they were involved. He is survived by his wife, Anita McEldowney of Corvallis; son Craig of Corvallis; daughter Sandra Conklin of Eugene; brothers Joe of Denver and Mike of Junction City; sister Maude Mahoney of Bend; and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Don; his brothers, Frank, Tom, Bill and Don; and a sister, Louise Terway. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 4, at Grace Lutheran Church. The Rev. Dan Hallgrimson will officiate. Private family graveside services will be held earlier at Oaklawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Lutheran Church or the Good Samaritan Hospital Cardiovascular Center in care of McHenry Funeral Home, 206 N.W. Fifth St., Corvallis, OR 97330. -Corvallis Gazette-Times (Online) (2/28/99) Hi Billy, I ran across this obituary while "surfing". It's the one about halfway down for James McEldowney. Do you recall his name in conjunction with AZ or FL? http://www.gtconnect.com/gtonline/gto0303-06.html -Jake Lamkins (2/19/00) I believe, I am familar with his name in some of the stuff Ken Schultz sent me some time back. You might forward to Ken. I would, but don't have his e-mail address on my lap top (in NYC freezin my arse off). I looked on the Alumni web site, but couldn't find his under Ken or Schultz. I know one error in the obit. He couldn't have sold his share in Arizona Airways in '52 because the merger with Monarch and Challenger occurred in '46. I have a ton of the old stuff from Arizona Airways at home. I won't be there until March 7th and will look through it then. -Billy Walker (2/19/00) Hi Ken, I ran across the attached obituary and wonder if you remember his name from AZ or the early FL days history? Thanks, -Jake Lamkins (2/20/00) I have looked at my Arizona airways reference materials and found James E. McEldowney mentioned several times. He was one of the original three incorporators of AZ in Sept 1942: 1. H.O. Nelson 2. James E. McEldowney 3. Timothy O'Connor In the Annual minutes of May 21, 1948, he is listed as a Director ( this is the only reference of him being a Director, it seems that many Directors came and went . The by-laws stated that there could be anywhere from five to 25 Directors ). Meeting of Nov 25, 1948, he is listed as owning 90 shares of stock. Meeting of June 6, 1949, he is listed as owning 1250 shares of stock. As far as his selling his stock, he would have been paid whatever was negotiated by Hal Darr in 1949 for the upcoming Monarch Airlines - Arizona Airways buyout/ merger. I did not find any references to him being involved in the actual operation of AZ. As far as the Navy Primary Flight Training School at Safford, AZ., I don't have any information on that operation. -Ken Schultz (2/20/00) Thank you once again Ken for all the great help you are. I'll make up something for this gentleman for the obit page. His participation in AZ Airways at such an early stage could have been vital. -Jake Lamkins (2/20/00) James is mentioned in Ken Schultz' history of Arizona Airways: http://FAL-1.tripod.com/AZ_HistorySchultz.pdf -Jake Lamkins (3/29/11)