RIP Fess Parker

Maybe not known to many that Fess was a true fan of aviation. He owned quite a few airplanes. 210, 310, BE-200, and a CE-501. My very first jet job was flying for Mr. Parker in his 501 Citation N328NA out of Santa Ynez, (KIZA) CA. The strip is only 2800' long and surrounded by mountains which made for some interesting non-precision IMC approaches to minimums at night. He bought his hangar in Santa Ynez from the owner of Pea Soup Anderson's restaurant who was the Belly Turret Gunner of the B-17 "Memphis Belle". One whole wall of the hangar has a beautiful painting of the Belle in battle over Germany. Mr. Parker was a very kind human being. How you saw him in the movies was no different than how he was off screen. He even gave me a 1955 F750 flat bed that was one of his first ranch trucks. A prize possession of mine to this day. His entire family is the same way. Thank you for the chance Mr. Parker and Godspeed to you.

Marty