Over the past year, the Prez Captain Sez column has been

attempting to encourage our members to consider attending the

2018 convention to mingle with old (not pertinent to age) friends

and past acquaintances.

This year, we had the lowest attendance compared to past years,

but somewhat higher than we had originally anticipated. Bob,

our convention Chairperson/Vice president provided us with an

excellent comedian “Mule Skinner Mike” on Saturday night for

fun and laughter. During the convention dinner on Sunday

evening, we were surprised with another superb comedian with

an original Southern drawl followed with an upbeat visit by our

own George Burns.

Captain Don Lovern and his wife presented a plaque to “Bob”

designating him as a “Honorary Captain for his many efforts on

behalf of the National Airline Buccaneers”.

As a special note, Mary (Cahill) Daniel and her husband had

donated nine large boxes of National Airlines memorabilia to the

NAL Buccaneers and convention. Funds collected for the many

items in this generous gift package were added to the club

treasury. “Thank you, Mary and Danny”.

Hoping that our members may consider and be able to attend the

2019 convention for great fun and social interaction as we see

those “old” friends once again.

NATIONAL BUCCANEERS

NEWSLETTER June 2018

Prez Captain Stan Sez

Officers are: President: Capt. Stan

Barfield

VP/Convention Chair:

Bob Pierson

Treasurers: Bob and Sharon

Thrasher

Bob Pierson

Sharon and Bob Thrasher

Past President:

Capt. John Wentworth &

Linda Wentworth

Editor: Gigi Cockes

from the

HART

Airplane and Airport winners from May 2018

The May Mystery Airport, Ft. Myers Page Field, stumped all but the following

regular sharpies: Bob Massey, John Wentworth, Stan Barfield, Dusty Rhodes, Bob Pierson, Vince Wynne, Gary Snodgrass and Alan Gee.

The May Mystery Airplane crowd crashed and burned. Only three

people got the 1920 Curtis Lark. Vince Wynne, Gary Snodgrass and Alan Gee.

Hard at work again!

On a sad note:

Bill Griscom visited his friend Ernie Ellison in

the hospital shortly before he passed away.

NAL Friends to the end!

June Mystery Airplane and Airport

Email me with your answers! Hart Kelley

islandhartjune@aol.com

June Mystery Airport This month we change up from the diagram to an

"old" photo of an airport.

The June Mystery Airplane was a late WWII entrant and never saw service. Only 35 were built..

“Old” Friends By: Hart Kelley

Sitting down to write this article the definition of the word “old” didn't seem to be much of a

mystery. Wrong again sky king. Looking to Webster, actually just the dictionary app on my

smart phone, it was amazing to see 28 definitions of this tiny three-letter word. Come to find

out this little word has fangs, and reading on, bruised my tender aging ego. The definitions

started out gently with far advanced in years, it quickly got personal with, relating to the latter

part of one’s life and looking to be far advanced in years. After taking a brief time out in front

of the bathroom mirror, the personal attacks had only just begun. The next few darts were like a

Phyllis Diller monolog. When I read, having been aged for a comparatively long time and

having been in existence since the distant past, reality started to set in, but they had saved the

real insults till the end. Right there as I scrolled down were the following: prehistoric, ancient

(ouch), deteriorated (Oh) dilapidated (ok that one really hurt.)

After a few deep breaths I remembered being told, “age is just a number.” Wow, that feels

better already, but maybe it’s just the Aleve I took while looking in the mirror a few minutes

ago. Anyway, either way, back to the original reason for writing this note. Seeing “old’ friends

is what the annual convention is really all about and why I block off the date on the calendar as

soon as the date is announced. Sure, there have been times when it has been scheduled at an

inopportune time, but unless it was a real “life event,” the “old” friends won out. I tell myself

this is the Mature, Sensible and Wise part of the “old” definition. So, to each of you, the good

“old” days need to be remembered and your “old” friends will not be around forever.

This year’s annual convention in Boca Raton was bitter sweet for many of us who attended.

The turn out was the lowest ever. That was not the bad part. The bad part was so many of the

“old” friends must not have wanted to be with those of us “old” friends who were there. Kinda

hurts around the edges a little. I know, the dog ate the invitation, but let’s make it a point to put

the invitation to next year’s convention out of his reach and also mark it on a calendar as soon

as possible. We are “old” you know, and there is a possibility of forgetting to…………….

Oh well, you get the idea. We missed you. We hope you missed most of us enough to make

just a little more of an effort next year…

The Buccaneers leadership sent out a survey via

Email in hopes your answers will help them

increase the turn out next year and shape the

convention format. So far, of the 364 members

on the Email list, 188 have opened the Email, but

as of this writing only 56 people have responded.

The Buccaneers is YOUR club, and your input is

essential to its success. Please take 5 minutes of

your busy day and help your club.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C2THDTK

POST SCRIPT

Better show up

next year. We

too have a spy!

Photos from

Bob Thrasher here with

his son John

Attendees:

Bob & Sharon Thrasher John & Linda Wentworth

Don & Doris Morgan Jack & Grace Theisen

Frank Savino Ronald Chatlos

John Bowling Bill West

Larry Helms Stan Barfield

Bill Sheleck Bob Martin

Steve Barkow Dan Pierce

Dave Blessing Joe Fricks

Bill Griscom

Frank Savino and Jack Theisen won the 50/50 drawing.

Bill Griscom gave us an account of his sad last visit to our friend Ernest Ellison along with a

photo of them together. I will send a copy to you of it. As you may know Ernest has flown

West on May 04th. He will be missed but not forgotten.

Central Florida Buccaneers Luncheon May 2018

Maritza waits

tables for the Bucs

each month at the

Golden Corral in

Ocala, FL

NAL Buccaneer’s Boca Raton Convention 2018 Photos

Photos from Bob Thrasher, thanks Bob!

Saturday night Entertainment! Bob Pierson helps

“Mule Skinner Mike” with duet!

NAL Buccaneer’s Boca Raton Convention 2018 Photos

Annual Meeting Sunday Morning But wait there is more!

Bob Pierson Convention Chair

Nancy and Capt. Don Lovern

Don may be close to oldest &

longest Convention attendee

F/A Carolyn

Clarkson -Veazey

F/A Kay Strauss–

Hospitality Room Capt. Gary Morton–

comes from furthest

distance, ~Montana~

Capt. Howard and Jenny

Morgan– newly weds

Frank and Mary Tirb Steve & Linda Mills

NAL BUCS –emails

Presiding over the

meeting is President

Capt. Stan Barfield

F/A Linda Miller-

Claytor

Paul Barker F/A Debby Drab

Sherry Patterson Diana Dresher Linda Metts- Maselli Capt. Dan Pierce

Capt. Vince Wynne and

Hart Kelley Bob and Sharon

Thrasher

Ruth Wolf and Vince

Falletta

Joe Claytor and John

Cockes

June and Hart Kelley Paula Sheehan F/A Beth Schwalbert Capt. John and Linda

Wentworth

Thanks for coming to the Annual Meeting and indulging me with some fun

photos of the participants!

There will be more photos of the banquet in next month’s newsletter.

Stay tuned! Gigi

We live in Macon County and

Jim & Dottie are in Jackson!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CAPT. JIM SPILLIS WHO JUST TURNED 90 YEARS YOUNG!!

LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE CONNECTING WITH YOUR NAL FRIENDS AND TAKE

A PICTURE! Send to Gigi Cockes countryimages2@att.net and please add NAL in the

subject line. Deadline is the 27th of each month. Thanks!!

Dottie and Jim Spillis with Gigi Cockes

While visiting our grandson, Ryan Cockes for his High

School Graduation, Grandfather Jon Cockes took out some

time to have lunch with an old NAL, PAA, UAL friend

Capt. Jim Bishop in Peachtree City, GA (taken by the

server on break from college and Ryan’s older brother,

Nathan Cockes).

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS GIGI?

Capt. Jon Cockes and Capt. Jim Bishop at

Crosstown Grille in Peachtree City, GA

https://crosstowngrille.com

You can take part in the news updates!

Gone but not forgotten

Obits from Capt. Bill Mauldin

Obituary of Stewardess Betty Jo Alene Prevatt

Betty Jo Alene Prevatt, 91, passed away May 4, 2018. She

was born July 2, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois and resided in

Orange Park, Florida.

Betty flew to Jacksonville after attending college to

become one of the first “stewardesses” with National

Airlines.

Arrangements by HARDAGE-GIDDENS RIVERMEAD

FUNERAL HOME, 127 Blanding Blvd, Orange Park,

Florida 32073. Please leave words of comfort at

www.hardage-giddensrivermead.com.

Obituary of Flight Attendant Richard Madan

Richard Madan, April 7, 1950 - April 25, 2018

Former NAL flight attendant and training instructor,

Richard Madan graduated in NAL class of April 27, 1973

then joined PAA in the merger in January 1980 merger. He

passed away on April 25, 2018 following a stroke.

He is survived by his sister Karen.

Obituary of Captain Gordon Bigger, NAL, PAA, DAL

Gordon Bigger. April 15, 1937 - May 12, 2018

Captain Gordon Bigger was hired by National Airlines on

August 16, 1965. He flew Captain for National, Pan Am,

and Delta.

Several days before his death, Gordon suffered a stroke in

Miami and never regained consciousness. Services were

private and consisted of close friends and family.