Archive for September, 2008
Delta’s Founder and first CEO: C. E. Woolman
This week is the 42nd anniversary of the death of C. E. Woolman, Delta’s principal founder. When he passed on September 11, 1966, he was Delta’s CEO and had managed the company for over forty years. He was very down-to-earth, thrifty, hard-working, charismatic and known for his great quotes. When asked about getting starting Delta, he said one of my favorite quotes: “Running an airline is like having a baby: fun to conceive, but hell to deliver.”
Woolman is shown here on the cover of Delta’s employee magazine the Delta Digest in January 1946, at his desk, holding a Douglas DC-4 model, shortly after promotion from general manager to president.
To learn more about C. E. Woolman, one of aviation’s pioneers and a Delta legend, see his biography at the Delta Air Transport Heritage Museum’s website.
Marie Force
Archives Manager
Pre-Season Wrap Up
We’re just wrapping up the pre-season and, as many of you know, it hasn’t been the best pre-season for me. As you can see from this picture, I suffered a broken nose and a busted lip in our game against the Saints. Most people think that are helmets make us somewhat invincible but I got hit by a blitzing safety and my helmet got me. The worst part about it was I had to get the broken bone reset following the game. I was numbed up but it’s still made for a tough week.
On to a brighter subject, the NFL season is just around the corner. I, like most fans in Cincinnati, have high hopes for the Bengals in 2008. We’re returning a large group of solid players including two wide receivers, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson, who make up one of the best wide receiver tandems in the NFL. As a quarterback, it’s always good to have one Pro Bowl receiver. Since I have two, I’m especially lucky. We also have a strong offensive line and a running game that I think is going to be solid. I mentioned our defense
once before and they’ve continued to impress through the off-season. Again, we’re excited in the Nati and I hope you guys get to see us play this year.
I haven’t had much time for anything but football of late. When I have had free time, I’ve just stayed mellow at home with my wife and our three dogs. We have two Rottweilers, Homer and Chunk, and a Maltese, Muffin. Although Muffin only weighs about 15 pounds, she definitely commands the respect of the “big dogs.”
I hope you guys are ready for football season to begin. Not only am I excited about the Bengals season, but I’m also looking forward to watching my USC Trojans play. Despite losing a ton of players, I think they’re super talented and should be a strong run at the National Championship again this season. To all the Trojan fans out there, “Fight On!”
I hope you all are well. You’ll be hearing from me after the season begins. Hopefully by then, I’ll be able to breathe out of my nose again.
Safe travels,
Carson
1930s Meal Service
Did you know pilots, not “stewardesses,” provided Delta’s first onboard meals? Shown here, Co-pilot Jack Slaton serves a box lunch to a passenger in the mid-late 1930s.
In 1936, Delta flew the Lockheed 10 Electras, which cruised 160 miles per hour and held 10 passengers, 2 pilots and our first complimentary meal service—box lunches served by the co-pilot.
At mealtime, the co-pilot would walk to the rear of the Electra. He handed box lunches to the closest passengers and they passed them forward amongst themselves. As the co-pilot made his way back to the cockpit, he poured passengers coffee from a thermos. The box lunches usually contained two sandwiches, fruit (apple, orange or banana) and a small cake.
Marie Force
Archives Manager
Destination: Quito, Ecuador
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Ann
Flight Attendant – SLC based