1923
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The Jack and Helen Frye Story!
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Sedona Legend Helen Frye Website
Created By R. D. Reynolds
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Sedona's Celebrity Love Story!
This is the official not to mention only web portal in the world
dedicated exclusively to the legacy of Jack and Helen Frye!
The Frye Legacy-
a Lifetime of Accomplishment!
By Randall Reynolds
The Sedona Legend Web Site is a historical narrative enhanced with photos presented for
educational and entertainment purposes. Some materials may be displayed in regard to the
United States Fair Use Act. This web portal is totally non-profit and generates no income, nor
does it seek or has it ever accepted a single donation. It is an independent venture.
While this web site is not "officially" affiliated with Red Rock State Park in any way, it was
envisioned and created to give park visitors a more indepth historical perspective in regard to
the former 700 acre Frye Ranch property.
Sedona Legend is encouraged and supported by the Jack Frye Family, to include Jack's
daughter, Nevajac Frye, Jack's late sister, "Sunny" Frye Thomas, the Helen Frye family,
and the many friends of Jack and Helen Frye.
Early On- California Here We Come!
Limited Factual Information
Jack’s early life is little documented, but for a few scraps of information pulled from various
sources. He grew up isolated and later shared a similar path to that of many young men of the
1920’s who struggled with hard times, trying to gain a foothold, during this pre-depression era.
The following is a general overview (1920-1924) from Jack’s family and from interviews with
Jack himself. One thing that must be mentioned, is that Jack did not like “going back” and
mulling over his early life before aviation. I take this to indicate his early life was a struggle
with little direction and he saw no comparison of it to his beloved career (which followed) as an
aviator. Nevertheless, occasionally, a reporter could cajole him to relate experiences of his early
youth. Certainly poignant, is the fact that Jack’s aviation career started very early, at just 18.
The earliest years of his life, he was just a kid, a kid, that had to grow up fast!

Early Life Was Hard Work With Simple Rewards
Jack grew up on the family ranch in the Texas Panhandle. The Frye Ranch, at 15,000-acres,
near Wheeler Texas, was a historic ranch which belonged to his grandparents. Since his mother
died when he was 8, Jack and his father, along with his sister Ople and brother Don resided
here until the mid-teens.

As soon as Jack and Don were old enough, they were integrated into the typical Texas ranch
life. As was the family custom, they both received a heifer when they were born and a horse of
their own as soon as they could ride. Time was spent with chores, education at the nearby
1-room Red Rock School, and cattle drives to Canadian Texas, where the Frye cattle were
shipped to Kansas City by railroad. Always the entrepreneur, a skill that made Jack’s life a
monumental success story, by 7 years old the youngster was earning his own way as the owner
of not one, but five heifers. Each was branded by Jack with his own iron as (“JF”). This brand
was later possibly utilized at the Frye Ranch at Sedona. Summers were hard with leisure
balanced between putting up hay and other ranch chores. Winters were spent with 7 other
students in a simplistic educative atmosphere. After the 5th grade Jack started school at
Clarendon Texas. Education back then for ranch children was not as structured as what we see
today.       

Early Exposure To Aviation
According to Jack’s sister, Sunny, Jack became acquainted with Texas fliers who offered
airplane rides for money back in the teens. Of course, there is another incident, as well, the
well-circulated story about the Army fliers who broke down and were forced to land on Jack’s
family ranch near Wheeler Texas, in the spring of 1918.

A Spark is Ignited
As a 14-year-old freshman at Clarendon High, Jack Frye was ice skating one day on a pond at
his family’s Texas ranch with new skates he received from his Dad as a Christmas gift.
Suddenly, he heard the sputter of airplane engines. He soon forgot about the skates, as he went
to assist 3 Army Curtiss JN-4 “Jennies” which had been forced to land nearby with mechanical
problems. He spent his day visiting with the pilots and excitedly running around securing parts
for the planes, while incurring a chill and wet feet, in the process. Late in the evening, Jack
trudged back home to a warm fire and dinner at home. This, however, would be the last time he
left the house, and almost the last time he saw another summer. (In regard to a comment Jack
made later in life, he very well may have taken a flight that frosty day, while chilled and wet).

Near Death Experience- Possibly a “Walk-In?”
This young boy named Jack Frye paid a severe price for his long day of exposure to the chilling
Texas elements as he soon developed a severe case of pneumonia even to the point of the doctor
telling his father he would not make it and possibly could die. For the next 2 months his family
hovered around him as Jack’s breathing became more and more shallow. Finally though after
ten weeks Jack started to come out of it. Slowly, he regained his strength, making a miraculous
recovery! This was no doubt due to his young age and vitality.

Later in life, Jack related this troubling experience, saying the planes were actually there for
3-4 days but because he was so sick he never got to see them take off. As a matter of fact, Jack
said, he had more to think about than planes (meaning his life) and didn’t think about them
again for several years. From this experience though, eventually, Jack Frye would become one
of the world’s foremost aviation visionaries, bringing forth, in a short life, great advancements
of the air-transportation industry, which benefited all of mankind.

Joins the Army Air Corp of Engineers
At the age of just 16, Jack Frye joined the Army Corp of Engineers, at El Paso, for 2 years. His
brother Don, at 15, soon joined him. Jack served across the country at a variety of locations, to
include, Camp Dodge Iowa and Camp Lewis Washington. Don was said to have eventually
served in Hawaii. After a year, though, Jack stated he had had enough and got out, returning to
ranch life and family. It is of record that John William Frye joined the Army Corp of Engineers
in 1921, and was discharged in 1922 as Corporal.

Little Known Fact
Somewhere in between all this, (according to Jack's sister Sunny Frye), Jack went to college in
Oklahoma for 2 years (likely O.K.C.) to be a chiropractor and actually opened his own practice
at Sweetwater Oklahoma, for a brief stint. (The time element lends itself to more like 1 year of
schooling- perhaps in summers)? His father was referred to as Dr. Frye and previously followed
this same path and practiced for many years, so therein, is Jack's connection. On the business
card of Jack Frye, the following print was found (per his sister Sunny) as follows-
William J. Frye 'I’m feeling great- how are you feeling?'.

Land of Milk and Honey Paved With Unemployment and Hard Knocks
When Jack and Don went out to California in 1922 they had limited funds and drove an old
Model T Ford which they later sold to pay the rent. They brought along a 2 friends from home.

Before Jack started his phenomenal aviation career he struggled to survive. He found a job
across the street from the landmark Garland Building, in downtown Los Angeles, at a mid-town
restaurant, which was likely in the Tower Theatre complex, (still a Los Angeles landmark). Jack
Frye, always a hard worker, also sold newspapers and worked in a drugstore as a soda jerk,
among other odd jobs, just trying to survive. It was while working downtown at the restaurant
that he utilized his hard-earned income to finance his flight lessons at Burdett Airport where he
later became a half-owner. Meanwhile, his traveling companions, brother Don, got a job with the
phone company, another boy, started work at a bank, and the third, decided to return home to
re-group.

Later in life, Jack relates the following experience of that period- "I sold the car and spent that
money, I was hungry and behind in my room rent- I got desperate.” Even though he could have
wired his father or grandparents for the rent money and they would have gladly helped him, he
said he was too proud. “I started walking down the street, asking at every place for a job. I had
walked eight blocks and canvassed every store when I came upon a restaurant with a sign in the
window saying, “Dishwasher Wanted” I got the job and was told to report the following morning
at 6 A.M."

Jack hurriedly rushed back to his landlady, who was way past the point of any further
negotiation and somehow talked her into an extension on the rent. He started the next morning
at 12 dollars a week, with one meal a day. “Believe it or not, I washed dishes in that place for 3
weeks. Then I went to selling newspapers on the streets in Los Angeles. I got to making $18 a
week and was getting along." Each day, coming and going from his way to both his jobs, Jack
passed a drugstore on a busy intersection, where he would stop on occasion and ask for a drink
of water (he could not afford to buy a fountain drink). One day, the owner asked Jack if he
knew anyone who would like a job as a fountain attendant? "I'll take it," said Jack jumping at
the chance! The drugstore owner asked the lanky young boy if he had any experience, to which
Jack replied, as any young man would, “sure!” The next morning, behind the counter, as it
started to get busy, Jack realized that being a soda jerk was a more complicated than he
envisioned- "To tell the truth, I couldn't even mix a coke, but the proprietor was a good old soul
and helped me get started. And think of it! The salary was $25 a week, and my meals!" Jack
was now working 13-hours a day, and with no time for anything other than work, crashing at
night from exhaustion. But he was soon saving 18 dollars a week. It's heartbreaking to think of
Jack suffering such dire straights, but as we all learn, life is full of hard knocks for us all.

Deja Vu?
Interestingly, after about 8 years, Jack’s posh executive office ended up at the very same
Garland Building (across from where he once washed dishes in 1922). However, this time
around, in 1930, Jack served as “vice-president of operations” for the airline Western Air
Express. Nice change of fortunes, I would say! Of course, this downtown office address was short-
lived as Jack soon took the same position with Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc., after a
merger and was required to move to Kansas City in about ‘31. This historic 1912 building is now
the site of “The Chapman”, a fashionable residential building (luxury flats) in downtown L.A.,
at 756 South Broadway.    

Almost Becomes an Aussie
Jack had become friends with a boy who worked at the movie house next to the drug store. They
both decided to quit their jobs and sign up on a steamer headed for Australia so they could
"travel the world", as young men often desire. But at the last minute, the theater usher/ticket
boy got cold feet and left Jack high and dry. Jack didn't want to go on a sea cruise without a pal,
so he tried to get his job(s) back so he could remain in L.A. This he accomplished, at the
drugstore with the wise and fatherly proprietor, but the dishwasher position? It was long gone.

Aviation Again- This Time It Sticks
Jack Frye and Burdett Fuller Form a Legendary Partnership
Soon, Jack’s mind again turned to flying, the new fangled rage that was consuming Southern
California. A customer who often came into the drugstore and sat at the fountain, one day
offered to show Jack around Los Angeles by motor car. After the grand tour, they ended up at
an airfield out on Western Avenue near Inglewood. Here, this L.A. (guide-pilot) was taking
people up in his old Army surplus Jenny, for 15-minute hops, at $5.00 a head. The man was a
25-year old aviator named Burdett Fuller. He tried to sell Jack a flight- no it was not a free-bee,
but believe it or not, Jack Frye was afraid. Yes, afraid to fly! Burdett convinced Jack there was
no cause for alarm and nothing to fear. They agreed that the next week, when he came
downtown, he would pick up Jack and take him out to the field for a spin. "Yes," Jack later
related, “I paid $5 for a ride in the same kind of plane that gave me pneumonia."

The flight was a life-changing experience for Jack, the passion ignited that day would not be
extinguished for a lifetime and would only end at death. Jack Frye truly had discovered his
soul’s path! Soon after the initial flight, Burdett talked Jack into taking flying lessons at $20.00
an hour. Imagine that fee for young Jack, in a day when times were so hard! But it was too late
for reason, Jack Frye wanted to be a pilot, and a pilot he would be! It was in his blood and how!
After 7 and 1/2 hours of lessons, and the forfeit of his hard earned savings, Jack Frye became
an official pilot in 1922-23. On his very first solo flight, so as to not waste gas, he boarded a
paying passenger who was none the wiser. Just 2-weeks later, after Jack continued to rent the
plane whenever he could afford it, Burdett offered him a golden opportunity, a half-interest in
the Jenny. Jack was keenly interested, as he realized this plane was a tool both of them could
use to earn a living, henceforth, as instructors and sight-seeing pilots.

But, Jack related later, "I didn't have that much money, I had sold my cows at the ranch, so I
asked my grandparents for a loan and got an emphatic, “No”! I asked my brother Don about
borrowing the money, and in consideration of my promise to teach him to fly, he sold his cows
and gave me the loan.” In those early days, being a pilot was not well thought of and most
people equated aviators to flimflam drifters. Thus, explaining his grandparent’s chilly reception
with Jack’s proposition. Jack fulfilled his obligation and taught his beloved brother how to fly
(and another aviator was born). Jack became quite successful with Burdett. Soon, he and
Burdett built a very successful flight hop business at L.A. Life was looking up, up, into the blue
yonder!

Marriage- Texas Style
At some point, Jack met his San Antonio born wife, Debbie Greer, at a downtown Los Angeles
theatre, where she was a dancer with the Los Angeles Follies. They sparked and soon were
married September 4, 1924 at Tijuana Mexico.

Little Sunny- We Miss You
Jack and Don soon wrote their wee sister, Sunny, and told her how wonderful the weather was
in California and encouraged her to come on out. Finally, Sunny did travel out to Santa Ana
where she lived with her grandmother first, but soon, she moved in with Jack and his wife.

Wild Trip Out West
The trip out was quite an adventure for little Sunny. She drove her grandmother’s car (thought
to be a Hupmobile) from Texas to California. Her youngster-cousin, with no where to sit, stood
up in the back seat the whole way. Sunny remembers the trip as such, she had never seen a
stop light before, having lived out on a ranch her whole life, so when they approached the first
light at Amarillo, Sunny just drove straight on through. She followed this procedure all the way
to Los Angeles. Somehow, though, they made it safely with no tickets or accidents and a car full
of people. Lordy! Please see Page 1909 for more information on Sunny Frye.

Living The Aviation Dream
After Debbie and Jack were married, Sunny told me that Debbie made really good money as a
“big wheel” (Sunny's words) at a big Mercantile, at Western Avenue and Manchester Avenue,
where they sold groceries, clothing, and sundries, etc. This was a store that would be akin to a
modern day “Wal-Mart” very near Jack’s work at Burdett Airport. In those early days, times
were hard and Debbie helped Jack financially when he was struggling to build up the Burdett
business, a burden, Debbie deserves great credit, for according to Sunny.

Lovers and Cruising Early Western Avenue
Jack and Debbie would drive around Los Angeles, with Sunny in the back seat, with her high
school dates. Jack would keep an eye on them in the rear view mirror to make sure they were
not necking and getting too carried away; however, Sunny remembers Debbie and Jack
themselves would neck so much while driving, that she looks back now, wondering how they
ever stayed on the road. Jack it seems was never looking ahead! Sunny says the women were
always after her brother Jack. He was tall, attractive, a pilot, and had a million dollar smile!
Women adored him and his charm!  

Jack Frye- Natural Born Leader In Aviation
In the mid-1920’s, Sunny related, one night at dinner, Jack, even then, showed incredible vision
as to the future of aviation. He stated to her and her young friend, that there would soon be
sleeper flights and dinner flights across the country. She says, she and her friend just looked at
each other and pointed at their heads indicating he was surely nuts! But Jack Frye was always a
visionary and was known as “a man with a habit of making dreams come true”! And indeed,
there were such flights and Jack accomplished this with TWA!

Hollywood Set and Flying Jalopies
Sunny loved hanging out at her brother’s air field, which was populated in those day by a lot of
movie and show people. Walt Hamilton and Don Frye were friends, and it was Walt, who taught
Don how to be a aircraft mechanic. Walter, Don, and Paul Richter paled around together and
went to air shows all the time. Don was married twice, the first time, to California gal, named
(Margarita?). The Frye family loved her and she was said to be really nice. She and Don met
when he used to ride with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department around L.A. in the evenings.
Margarita was selling cigarettes (maybe at a club?). Sunny remembered that Margarita’s father
was a big wig in the oil business in Los Angeles. Much later, Don’s second wife was named
Marguerite Wilkinson and they lived in Ft Worth, Texas. This is when he founded the Frye
Aircraft Company. Don never had any children. Because of the tragedy of his death, the family
never kept in touch with the last wife. God You Bless Don- you are not forgotten you are
cherished. (This narrative continues from Page 1904- resumes on Page 1924.)
Jack Frye- The Aviator- Flying Over Los Angeles in 1924