Sales Service Meeting in Seattle

Still another trip by myself and Larry, this was to put on a sales, service meeting for all of our distributors in Seattle Washington and the surrounding area. We flew from Battle Creek on the old Republic airline to Chicago and from there on a Douglas DC6 four motored piston aircraft to Seattle (Jet aircraft was just coming into operation by some airlines ) This was in April of 1961. we put on the show and then called the airport to confirm our flight home the following day, we were notified that our flight number had been changed apparently to allow room for a special flight of some kind and not only that but we would be delayed an hour. This we didn’t like at all because more than likely it would result in missing our flight for home in Chicago. In the ensuing argument we found out that this all came about because of the inaugural flight from Seattle to Chicago in the new DC 8 jet aircraft. (Red Carpet all the way ) Well now, this was a United Airline flight and it so happened we knew the Chairman of our company, R P Sherer of the Sherer-Gillett Co. had a brother on the board of directors of United Airlines ,we also knew united airlines co.'s base was in Seattle. So what was we to do?? Call Mr. Sherer at his home and explain who we were and our predicament. Lo and behold Mr. Sherer was a perfect gentleman. He told us, no problem at all be at the airport at our scheduled time and you will have no problem boarding the plane. Man, what a flight, the plane was full of reporters from all the major newspapers and united board members, champagne buckets of it all free and by the time we got to Chicago we didn’t know whether we were going to or coming from Seattle. In about a week we each received a silver medallion with the picture of the plane embossed on it, also, we received a certificate saluting the flight and signed by the captain (pilot) in a framed print. Incidentally, I still have them both. Such was the beginning of the jet age, it was a far cry from the early 40's and 50's when I would either drive the company car or go by train, and I remember catching the train to Chicago or New York here in Marshall or Battle Creek many times in the 50. The depot in Marshall was on the north side of the tracks on south Kalamazoo, many old timers will remember it. I might mention here that Larry Pahl my traveling companion was a heavy drinker and several years later it caught up with him as he died from cirrhosis of the liver. (We had many good times together and worked many super market shows ) On arrival home from each trip usually at the airport in Battle Creek, his wife Norma and Ardis would pick us up and we would have dinner at some nice place before going on home.