Ad Astra - Delford Smith '54

Delford Smith dies at 84; aviation entrepreneur bought 'Spruce Goose'

November 9, 2014   Los Angeles Times

The "Spruce Goose," with Howard Hughes at the controls, made Its only flight — one mile at 70 feet over Long Beach Harbor — on Nov. 2, 1947. (Los Angeles Times)

Delford Smith, a rags-to-riches entrepreneur who reportedly bought his mother a home when he was 11, founded a worldwide aviation business and later purchased Howard Hughes' "Spruce Goose" for a museum he built in McMinnville, Ore., has died. He was 84.

Smith died at home Friday of natural causes, said Andrew Anderson, a funeral director in McMinnville.

Smith's Evergreen International Airlines filed for bankruptcy last December. His Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum remains open, with Hughes' colossal wooden plane a centerpiece that draws as many as 150,000 visitors a year.

Delford Smith, a rags-to-riches aviation entrepreneur who purchased Howard Hughes' "Spruce Goose" and had it transported from Long Beach to a museum he built for it in McMinnville, Ore., has died at the age of 84. (Evergreen Aviation Museum)

Flown only once — and then just for a minute in 1947 — the Spruce Goose was hidden from public view for decades. Though it was conceived by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser as the biggest-ever military transport plane, Hughes designed and built the over-budget, long-delayed, widely derided behemoth. By 1992, when Smith and his son Michael King Smith acquired it, the Spruce Goose was a struggling Disney attraction next to the Queen Mary in Long Beach.

The Smiths had the massive plane disassembled and loaded into dozens of trucks for the move north. The wings, fuselage and tail were shipped up the West Coast by barge — a process avidly followed throughout Oregon, where the plane, six times larger than others of its day, became a quirky source of local pride.

"The Hughes Flying Boat is resting safely in Oregon, home of the beaver, the ducks and the goose," callers to a hotline were assured after the barge had navigated the Columbia and Willamette rivers.

When Michael King Smith was killed in a 1995 car crash, his father poured himself into his son's museum idea and "built it dramatically larger than it probably would have been otherwise," museum director Larry A. Wood said in an interview Sunday.

A hard-charging businessman, Delford Smith founded a helicopter and air cargo service that operated in 168 countries.

Smith's aircraft fought Kuwaiti oil field fires after the Gulf War, combated tsetse flies in Africa, delivered food to refugees from Kosovo, destroyed opium poppies in Mexico and Peru, performed more than 200 logistical missions for U.S. forces in Afghanistan and shuttled personnel to "every oil patch in the free world," according to a company video.

"We were operating all over the world, so we were close to every urgent need that came about," Smith once told an interviewer.

Born in Seattle on Feb. 25, 1930, Delford Michael Smith was adopted from an orphanage when he was 2. Raised by an ailing woman who cleaned houses and worked in a candy factory, Smith delivered newspapers, sold lumps of coal he scrounged off railroad tracks and did farm labor in the summer.

When he was 7 and wanted to mow lawns, his mother encouraged him to borrow $2.50 from the local bank.

"I borrowed from a second bank, paid the first one off, then paid the second one," he said in accepting a 2002 honor from the Horatio Alger Assn. "I got started with credit at an early age."

By the time he was 11, he said in interviews, he had saved enough for the initial payment on a family home. The equity in that house helped him pay his way through the University of Washington, he said.

After graduating in 1953, Smith served in the Air Force and started a helicopter service in 1960. In the late 1970s, he acquired passenger planes and was offering charter tours. Over the years, he also worked on more exotic missions. In 1980, one of his planes ferried the deposed Shah of Iran from Panama to a refuge in Egypt.

The company folded last year. Industry analysts blamed its demise on high levels of debt and lower revenue from military work.

Smith's survivors include his wife Maria and son Mark.

Across the road from his shuttered company, the Evergreen museum displays dozens of vintage aircraft. The Goose, made mostly out of birch, is the most famous. Its only flight — one mile at 70 feet over Long Beach Harbor — was on Nov. 2, 1947, two years after the end of the war effort it was meant to aid. Hughes was at the controls.

The museum complex includes an indoor water park.

When Smith described his idea for it to associates, someone asked what would make it distinctive.

"He said, 'Let's put a plane on the roof!' and the whole room laughed," Wood recalled.

But Smith didn't laugh: "Let's make it a 747," he said.

Opened in 2011, the Evergreen Wings & Waves water park has a 747 on the roof.

October 2014 Luncheon - Stan Pocock '46, US Rowing Medal of Honor recipient 2012

Stan Pocock '46 is an innovative boat builder, oarsman, and lifelong coach for a multitude of winning crews.  In 2012 Stan was honored at the US Rowing Golden Oars Awards Dinner in New York as he received the US Rowing Medal of Honor.

Stan Pocock coached at the Univ. of Washington from 1947-55.  He coached multiple U.S. crews in the Olympics, winning several medals including gold in the men's four in 1960 Olympics in Rome, Italy. 

Stan has generations of boat building in his blood.  Originally the family built boats in England.  Stan's father, George, founded the Pocock Racing Shells boat building company with his brother, Dick, in Seattle 1913. 

A testimony to Stan's influence on the fraternity and the sport of crew, our luncheon crowd for Stan's presentation spanned 8 decades.

Stan Pocock '46 and Koll Hagen '66

 Jim McCurdy Sr. has been a lifelong supporter of Husky Crew, so it was our pleasure to include him in our luncheon group.

Honored guest, Jim McCurdy Sr. flanked by James McCurdy '79 and Peter Phillips '76

Peter Apostolou '46 receiving book order from Jack Rhodes '60

Authored by Stan Pocock '46, available for purchase

Peter Apostolou '46 announced the signed books were available for $ 100 each, and all proceeds go to the George Pocock Foundation.  Per Peter, this book is available on Amazon for $ 400.  Questions or orders should be addressed to Peter Apostolou '46

peter53112@me.com

4503 Clothing items offered by the Parents Club

You could be looking real good as you stroll down the street wearing your gear prominently displaying the big "W" and "4503".

Then again, you might want to wear your 4503 gear while playing with your grandchildren to get build familiarity as they look to their future and their goals for college.

4503 Coffee -- Order Form

Get Your Own 4503 Coffee

The Parents Club is offering gourmet whole bean coffee roasted by quality roaster - Caffe Appassionato.  Each bag will prominently feature the below label.  

The 4503 private label that will come on each of your bags of coffee

 Must order by early November, so act now.

Sigma Tau is honored in All-Fraternity Awards for 2014

AWARD WINNERS FOR THE 2013 CALENDAR YEAR
Awarded July 27, 2014

Baker Cup

First Place:                  Sigma Tau at University of Washington

Second Place:              Zeta at Indiana University

Third Place:                 Chi Eta at Western Kentucky University

Honorable Mention:    Kappa Deuteron at University of Georgia

                                    Sigma at Wittenberg University

Gamma Tau at the Georgia Institute of Technology                         
Kappa Omicron at Oregon State University

                                    Omicron at University of Virginia

                                   

Brightman Graduate Chapter Award

Over 75 Members

First Place (tie):           Seattle Graduate Chapter

Washington D.C. (National Capital Fijis)      

Third Place:                 Indianapolis, IN (Beta Grad Chapter)

Honorable Mention:    Chicago, IL

                                    New York, NY (Xi Graduate Chapter)

Under 75 Members

First Place:                  Naples, FL (Southwest Florida Graduate Chapter)

Second Place:              Birmingham, AL

Third Place:                 Columbus, OH

Honorable Mention:    Arlington Texas Graduate Chapter

Calgary, AB

Chattanooga, TN

Kansas City, MO

Nashville, TN (Music City Graduate Chapter)

Omaha, NE

Tampa, FL

Brightman Trophy

First Place:                  Beta Sigma at Ball State University

Second Place:              Sigma Tau at University of Washington

Third Place:                 Kappa Deuteron at University of Georgia
Honorable Mention:    Gamma Tau at the Georgia Institute of Technology 

Chi Eta at Western Kentucky University
            Omicron at the University of Virginia.

Omicron Deuteron at Ohio State University

Chi Iota at the University of Illinois

Cheney Cup

1st Place:                     Beta Sigma at Ball State University

2nd Place:                   Chi Eta at Western Kentucky University

3rd Place: Tie:             Gamma Tau at Georgia Institute of Technology

                                    Sigma Tau at the University of Washington

Honorable Mention:    Psi at Wabash College

                                    Kappa Omicron at Oregon State University

                                    Kappa Deuteron at the University of Georgia

 

Condon Cup

First Place:                  Sigma at Wittenberg University

Second Place:              Gamma Phi at Pennsylvania State University

Honorable Mention:    Theta Deuteron at Ohio Wesleyan University

Coon Plaque

First Place:                  Sigma Tau at University of Washington

Second Place:              Kappa Deuteron at the University of Georgia

Third Place:                 Chi Eta at Western Kentucky University

Honorable Mention:    Kappa Omicron at Oregon State University

                                    Sigma at Wittenberg University

                                    Theta Tau at Tennessee Technological University                             

Crowder Cup

First Place:                  Stephen C. Crowe (Cincinnati 1972) for the University of Cincinnati

Honorable Mention:    Dr. Ray J. Blankenship (Kentucky 1984) for Western Kentucky University

Tony Marable for Tennessee Technological University

Lou Ann Simpson for Drake University

 

Coulter Cup

First Place:                  Harry A. Streamer (Pennsylvania State 1963) for Pennsylvania State University

Distinguished Service: Dale R. Adams Jr. (Akron) for the University of Akron

Jay E. Allardt (Indiana 1978) for Ball State University
David A. Aroh (Hanover 1981) for Western Kentucky University  

Eric M. Jasso (Missouri 2005) for the University of Cincinnati

                                   

Durrance Award

First Place:                  Dr. Michael C. Ashman (Indiana 1991) for Ball State University Distinguished Service:  Stephen E. Caine (New Mexico 1997) for Chapman University

Robert E. Hall (Kentucky 1968) for North Carolina State University

David J. Harben (Ball State 2004) for University of Texas Dallas

Kirk B. Maag (Oregon State 2005) for Oregon State University
Kenneth W. Nuhn (Idaho 1975) for the University of Idaho
Dr. Christopher J. Tankersley (Akron 2002) for the University of Akron

                                   

Haynes Award

First Place:                  Christopher L. Kurtz (Ball State 2006)
Distinguished Service: Soumitra R. Banerjee (Pittsburgh 1987)

                                    Benjamin R. Harper (Kentucky 1969, GA Western Kentucky 2012)

                                    Bradley R. Whiting (Washington 1980)

Jordan Bowl

First Place:                  Chi Eta at Western Kentucky University

Second Place:              Psi at Wabash College
Third Place:                 Zeta at Indiana University

Fourth Place:               Epsilon Alpha at the University of Alberta

Honorable Mention:    Epsilon Iota at the University of Evansville

                                    Nu Kappa at the University of Nebraska Kearney

                                    Theta Deuteron at Ohio Wesleyan University

Owen Cup

First Place:                  Delta Iota at Drake University

Second Place:              Omega Chi at Chapman University
Third Place:                 Gamma Tau at Georgia Institute of Technology

Honorable Mention:    Alpha Omicron at the University of Akron

Wilkinson Award

First Place:                  Sean D. Ratkus (Ball State 2014)

Honorable Mention:    Rolf B. Iueter (Wisconsin 2014)

Nicholas B. West (Oregon State 2014)

Zerman Trophy 

First Place:                  Kappa Omicron at Oregon State University

Second Place:              Kappa Deuteron at the University of Georgia

Third Place:                 Beta Sigma at Ball State University

Honorable Mention:    Gamma Tau at the Georgia Institute of Technology

Sigma Tau at the University of Washington

Chi Eta at Western Kentucky University

Chi Iota at the University of Illinois

Zeta at Indiana University

CERTIFICATES OF SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

Alpha Omicron, University of Akron (11)

Theta, University of Alabama (9)

Alpha Upsilon, Auburn University (53)

Beta Sigma, Ball State University (11)

Chi Rho, California University of Pennsylvania (7)

Lambda Chi, College of Charleston (5)

Lambda, DePauw University (12)

Delta Iota, Drake University (5)

Kappa Deuteron, University of Georgia (45)

Gamma Tau, Georgia Institute of Technology (31)

Tau, Hanover College (9)

Chi Iota, University of Illinois (9)

Zeta, Indiana University (55)

Chi Deuteron, Kansas State University (5)

Upsilon Kappa, University of Kentucky (12)

Alpha Phi, University of Michigan (10)
Psi Mu, Missouri State University (7)

Nu Kappa, University of Nebraska Kearney (5)

Omicron Deuteron, Ohio State University (10)

Sigma Omicron, Oklahoma State University (25)

Beta, University of Pennsylvania (5)

Lambda Iota, Purdue University (14)

Theta Tau, Tennessee Technological University (21)

Lambda Tau, Texas Tech University (21)

Tau Upsilon, Tulane University (8)

Omicron, University of Virginia (10)

Psi, Wabash College (51)

Sigma Tau, University of Washington (55)
Chi Eta, Western Kentucky University (5)

Zeta Phi, William Jewell College (7)

Sigma, Wittenberg University (7)

CERTIFICATES OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

Pi Colony, Allegheny College (1)

Beta Nu, Appalachian State University (4)

Delta Colony, Austin Peay State University (2)

Delta Colony, University of Central Arkansas (2)
Omega Phi, University of Central Florida (1)

Omega Chi, Chapman University (3)
Mu Beta, Coastal Carolina University (3)

Gamma Kappa, Colorado School of Mines (3)

Phi Kappa, Colorado State University (2)

Omega, Columbia University (3)
Delta Kappa, Davidson College (2)

Nu Delta, University of Delaware (4)

Lambda Pi, DePaul University (3)

Pi Nu, East Carolina University (4)
Epsilon Rho, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (2)

Epsilon Iota, University of Evansville (1)

Sigma Phi, Florida International University (3)

Mu Iota, University of Idaho (1)

Iota Sigma, Indiana State University (3)

Mu Deuteron, University of Iowa (2)

Mu Chi, James Madison University (3)
Alpha Gamma, Kettering University A (3)

Beta Rho, Louisiana State University (4)
Phi Deuteron, University of Maryland (3)
Delta Colony, University of Massachusetts (3)
Chi Mu, University of Missouri (3)

Phi Upsilon, University of North Alabama (2)
Nu Tau, University of North Texas (3)
Nu Upsilon, Nova Southeastern University (3)
Delta Colony, Ohio Northern University (1)

Theta Deuteron, Ohio Wesleyan University (1)

Epsilon Omicron, University of Oregon (1)

Gamma Phi, Pennsylvania State University (3)

Tau Nu, Rensselaer Polytechnic University (1)

Rho Phi, Rose Hulman Institute of Technology (1)

Alpha Pi, University of San Diego (3)
Sigma Delta, San Diego State University (3)
Gamma Sigma, University of the South Sewanee (4)

Sigma Chi, University of Southern California (4)

Sigma Nu, Syracuse University (2)

Alpha Mu, Texas A & M University (2)
Tau Delta, University of Texas Dallas (3)
Upsilon Tau, University of Toledo (3)
Gamma, Vanderbilt University (3)
Rho Alpha, Virginia Polytechnic and State University (3)

Kappa Chi, William Woods University (1)

JOHN TEMPLETON MCCARTY CHAPTER PROFICIENCY AWARDS

Alpha Omicron, University of Akron (12)

Theta, University of Alabama (12)

Epsilon Alpha, University of Alberta (10)

Pi Colony, Allegheny College (1)

Beta Nu, Appalachian State University (5)

Alpha Sigma, Arizona State University (3)

Phi Alpha, University of Arkansas (1)

Delta Colony, Austin Peay State University (1)

Beta Sigma, Ball State University (13)

Beta Pi, Bradley University (2)

Delta Xi, University of California Berkeley (4)

Lambda Beta, California State University Long Beach (2)

Chi Rho, California University of Pennsylvania (1)

Xi Deuteron, Case Western Reserve University (6)

Delta Colony, University of Central Arkansas (1)

Omega Phi, University of Central Florida (5)

Omega Chi, Chapman University (7)

Lambda Chi, College of Charleston (5)

Chi Omicron, University of Cincinnati (2)

Mu Beta, Coastal Carolina University (2)

Gamma Kappa, Colorado School of Mines (7)

Phi Kappa, Colorado State University (7)

Delta Kappa, Davidson College (1)

Lambda, DePauw University (5)

Nu Delta, University of Delaware (1)

Delta Iota, Drake University (4)

Pi Nu, East Carolina University (5)

Epsilon Rho, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (2)

Kappa Deuteron, University of Georgia (21)

Gamma Tau, Georgia Institute of Technology (27)

Tau, Hanover College (2)

Mu Iota, University of Idaho (4)

Chi Iota, University of Illinois (8)

Zeta, Indiana University (5)

Iota Sigma, Indiana State University (2)

Mu Deuteron, University of Iowa (2)

Alpha Iota, Iowa State University (17)
Chi Deuteron, Kansas State University (7)

Upsilon Kappa, University of Kentucky (2)

Alpha Gamma, Kettering University A (2)

Phi Deuteron, University of Maryland (4)

Alpha Phi, University of Michigan (10)

Epsilon Lambda, Michigan State University (4)

Mu Sigma, University of Minnesota (1)

Sigma Mu, Mississippi State University (2)
Chi Mu, University of Missouri (3)

Psi Mu, Missouri State University (7)

Lambda Nu, University of Nebraska (1)

Nu Kappa, University of Nebraska Kearney (6)

Delta Colony, Ohio Northern University (1)

Theta Deuteron, Ohio Wesleyan University (2)

Sigma Omicron, Oklahoma State University (11)

Kappa Omicron, Oregon State University (8)

Beta, University of Pennsylvania (1)

Gamma Phi, Pennsylvania State University (8)

Lambda Iota, Purdue University (4)

Tau Nu, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1)

Rho Phi, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (28)

Rho Nu, Rowan University (2)

Nu Beta, Rutgers University (2)

Alpha Pi, University of San Diego (2)

Sigma Chi, University of Southern California (3)

Theta Tau, Tennessee Technological University (9)

Alpha Mu, Texas A & M University (1)

Tau Delta, University of Texas Dallas (1)

Lambda Tau, Texas Tech University (1)

Upsilon Tau, University of Toledo (2)

Tau Kappa, University of Toronto (1)

Tau Upsilon, Tulane University (7)

Chi, Union College (2)
Gamma, Vanderbilt University (3)
Omicron, University of Virginia (3)

Beta Upsilon, University of Vermont (25)

Rho Alpha, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (16)

Psi, Wabash College (16)

Sigma Tau, University of Washington (30)

Chi Eta, Western Kentucky University (4)
Kappa Chi, William Woods University (1)

Mu, University of Wisconsin (1)

Epsilon Chi, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire (1)

Sigma, Wittenberg University (5)

September 2014 Luncheon - Gary "Ezmuny" Schell '70-WSU

WSU Fiji House - George Raimondi and son

It was an eventful moment in the late 1990's when Ron Rawson (a founding member of the WSU Fiji Chapter) approached the President of Pullman Bank to ask for a loan on the chapter's fraternity house.  One thing led to another, and the banker, Gary Schell '70 - WSU, became the Purple Legionnaire (chapter advisor).

A good 15 years later Gary Schell continues in his role as chapter advisor and president of the House Corporation.  And his story to our luncheon group kept everyone leaning forward and enjoying the presentation.

33 years a banker, 15 years a real estate broker, and survivor of open heart surgery in 2013; Gary is a colorful, seasoned, business guy.  His message to the luncheon grads included a behind the scenes look at the long-term funding program he's advanced for the Pullman chapter.

In the 1960's the Cougar Fijis were able to purchase two houses located adjacent to their fraternity house.  Building on this original portfolio, Gary has led an effort to acquire other properties located within blocks of the fraternity house.  At the luncheon Gary reviewed the loan/payback programs that generate a positive cash flow to the benefit of the WSU Chapter.  The current portfolio includes 7 properties plus the chapter house for a total valuation of $ 3+ million.  The annual revenues exceed $ 200k per year.  Every property generates cash flow exceeding the underlying loan expenses.

Real Estate Portfolio -- WSU Chaper Corporation

Several elements of note in this plan:

• To minimize any liability to the fraternity chapter, no fraternity members can be tenants. 
• To keep operations at arms length, a professional management firm is used to manage and maintain the properties.   
• Gary Schell is typically the listing agent for the properties purchased, and the real estate commission is his compensation for all time and work related to the properties.
• Properties are prime locations within blocks of the fraternity house and adjacent to the WSU campus, 

These 8 properties anchor a long term plan to use a couple of the properties to build a new and larger fraternity house in 2028.  The house is expected to be built from cash accumulated over the 20 years leading up to 2028.

Thanks to Gary Schell '70, the WSU chapter has a very strong chapter of young men and a robust real estate portfolio that offers a bright future for Phi Gamma Delta at Washington State University.

It was a terrific luncheon presentation, and we thank Gary.   It is food for thought on ways to approach sustainable financing for the Seattle chapter's long-term success.  If you have questions or comments, you can reach this interesting Fiji by email @  GESchell@pullman.com

Ad Astra - Ed Keenan '70

Ad Astra Ed “Fast Eddie” Keenan ’70 --  The below message dated Aug. 16^th from Paul Hull ’59 to John Werner ’59 is passed along to all.

Hi John,

      We lost another outstanding Fiji brother, Ed Keenan ’70.  He grew up in Shelton, a Sigma Tau Fiji, got a PhD in pharmacology, and was Associate Dean Of Medical Education At Oregon Health Sciences University, He had a reputation as a charismatic teacher, and was a great guy. I knew him through the Foundation for Medical Excellence that he headed. He chaired meetings of a group called the Collegium that I have been associated with for about 10 years. We deal with medical education and ethical issues. He died suddenly two days ago. He had been in excellent health, and was a vigorous, active guy. We had a lot of fun reminiscing about our Sigma Tau years,

Not a good year for us here in Oregon, with the loss of John Wilson ‘62, Larry Schneider ‘59, and now Ed Keenan ‘70.

      I am really going to miss Ed. He was a really good friend.

      The State of Oregon has lost a major authority and leader in healthcare.

                                                                                                      Pogey