sedona legend helen frye

From Beyond The Grave-

Synchronicity and Weird Events.....

Sedona Legend Profile Page

This story is long and complicated. The Jack Frye legacy has more twists and turns than a best-selling novel. This Web Site as the portal to his life, serves to pull together elements that could not possibly connect otherwise. One such event was the recent contact by a web-surfer who found this site on after searching years for the information within. What was the search all about? Many years prior this remarkable lady, "Joan" had discovered and purchased a cache of memorabilia at an auction. This documentation turned out to be items that had been lost many years prior through an unfortunate chain of events from Jack's own estate.

I was contacted through this Web Site and immediately put Joan in touch with Jack's daughter and heir, Nevajac Frye. I knew a lot of property from Jack's estate was missing and that this particular memorabilia was the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. Nevajac and I were both overwhelmed in sharing this most amazing discovery! On this page I am honored to share a small portion of the photos that were rediscovered. These photos discovered in an old musty box, are photos that have been missing from Jack's personal collection for over 30 years. Just a small portion of estate property that "disappeared" many years ago. Nevajac felt much of it was gone forever. The most moving part of this saga is that several of the items discovered by Joan had never been seen by Jack's own daughter, even though they had at one time been a part of her father's personal collection.

On the day that Joan contacted me I had the overwhelming feeling something monumental was going to occur. In time I realized that this was a piece of a puzzle just waiting to fall in to place. From beyond the grave I strongly felt Jack like a puppeteer, trying to reunite Nevajac and I with a fragment of his rich legacy. It was the most amazing experience and gave me pause to realize this Web Site was serving a purpose that I had never fathomed previously! After Joan came across the photographs that were included in a "lot" she restrained herself from just tossing them. As she looked through the musty memories, she realized as she told me, "that the information was someone's life!" So for 10 years she tried to piece together "who" the photographs were of and to identify the mystery.

Eventually intrigued she discovered that the person in the photos was Jack Frye, but knew nothing about him. Finally after several years she discovered my Web Site and contacted me. Now the mystery has come full circle and in the process many people have been moved. Not only have the items been identified, but where they came from and how they came to become "lost" in the first place. Thank you Joan for holding on to these priceless memories, and after many years generously sharing them with me and returning the originals copies with scrapbooks to Jack's family from whence they originated!

Jack was a commercial photographer. Many people are not aware of this hobby of his. All through the years of his amazing career Jack documented different events personally and as well, had every event with Standard Airlines, Aero Corporation of California, and Transcontinental and Western Air (TWA), meticulous and professionally documented. This is why he went on to become C.E.O. of Aniline Film Corporation, Kodak's only rival in the world!

His life was well documented by news photos and articles, which were circulated world-wide by the press, and by his TWA publicity department. What happened to this monumental personal collection of photographic documentation? Much of it has been lost, due to pilfering of Jack's estate after his last wife died. However, some items are now surfacing on the world market after all these years. This page represents just a very small fraction of a few of those lost artifacts! I will share more items as they surface.

Very Special Occasion- Phoenix Sky Harbor 1938

At the event pictured to the left, Arizona Native American Indian dancers were on hand presenting Jack with an American Indian head dress. Date was September 2, 1938. This celebration was to honor Jack, and as well, his launch of the new daily Transcontinental and Western Air passenger service from Phoenix AZ. to Boulder, NV. to San Francisco, CA. Another TWA FIRST!

Valley of the Sun- Sky Harbor-- Phoenix Airport

"Arizona to Honor No. 1 Pilot Frye to Arrive today
Map Airline.... "PHX to SFO" via TWA! See Brand New Sedona Legend historical documentation of this event here!

Portrait of an Aviation Legend

Here is a wonderful photo of aviation legend Frye standing in front of a 3- blade Hamilton Standard Propeller. It is hard to discern, but the plane appears to be a Douglas Commercial 2, this due to the round engine air intake. Dressed impeccably as always this man represented TWA like no other corporate head ever did! He is rightly considered the "Father of TWA." Interestingly, this photo was not randomly captured, it was once featured in a full page TWA ad in 1939, titled the "Flying President." Jack Frye was the only airline president of his day to hold a Transport Pilot's License and often flew scheduled passenger flights.
See new page here!

Much Deserved Vacation- Frye Ranch Airstrip
Sedona Arizona- Lockheed Electra- 12A NC 18137

The legendary Jack Frye standing in front of his personal Lockheed Electra executive plane NC-18137, also known as the TWA "Flight Research Laboratory." Jack often seen with a cigar, looks every bit the confident corporate leader he truly was. You can see the left prop blade displayed across his shoulder. The photo was taken October 1941 at Jack's private airstrip in Sedona Arizona where Jack had just landed- incoming- from Kansas City. His personal planes were often seen parked at the Frye private airstrip @ Sedona.

Another pose of Jack Frye the same afternoon standing beside his beloved Lockheed Electra 12A executive plane, Reg. NC-18137. Jack always looked sharp in the way he dressed and was the heart and soul of TWA. As one of the original founders and long-time president of this great airline he became world renowned and well-remembered. Images were likely photographed by either Helen Frye or one of Jack's co-pilots, perhaps Robby Robinson.

Most Sacred Spot to Jack Frye- was his Sedona Ranch

Powerhouse Jack Frye exhibits a subtle presence in this photo. Even he never dreamed that his image would appear in this format 60 years after this impromptu photo was snapped! Visually the photo appears to be taken beside a roadway next to a vintage guard rail. However, after blowing up the photo I was able to determine that Jack is actually standing on a foot bridge. It is my conclusion this may be the very footbridge that crossed Oak Creek from the Willow House to the Apache Fires house at Jack and Helen's Smoke Trail Ranch in Sedona. The footbridge washed out in 1967. Who snapped this photo? Likely it was Helen Frye, Jack's wife. The most unusual thing about the photo is quite startling, Jack is holding a cane in his left hand. This brings to mind the story of his property foreman at the Sedona ranch, relating that the only air accident Jack ever had was with Howard Hughes. Is this picture a clue? Jack's daughter, Nev is puzzled, as well. It is said Jack had been in a car accident around this time frame.

Sedona Ranch After a Dip in Oak Creek

Another "profile" shot, most likely captured by Jack's wife Helen. Captured at Oak Creek at Jack and Helen's Smoke Trail Ranch in Sedona Arizona, (now Red Rock State Park) where Jack and Helen swam constantly. Date of the photo is likely around 1947. No doubt this photo and the one above were taken with Jack's own advanced photographic equipment. Please see "How Jack Frye Helped Transform Sedona from Shades of Gray to Vivid Vibrant Color!"

The Frye Deer Lick and Smoke Trail Ranches
started out as Cattle Ranches

Yes, this is the famous Santa Gertrudis bull that was given to Helen and Jack by Congressman Richard (Dick) Kleberg of the King Ranch in Texas. This picture was taken at Jack and Helen's Smoke Trail Ranch in Sedona. The date was some time after 1942. See this new page!

A Treasured Friend and Business Partner

This portrait, once a part of Jack Frye's private collection was from his close friend and business partner, Paul Ernest Richter, Jr., one of the original founders of TWA- Standard Airlines- Aero Corporation, along with Jack Frye and Walter Hamilton. The picture says: "To friend, Jack, Paul E. Richter Jr." This particular photograph Jack would have treasured as he and Paul were close business associates. It is just one of many photos Jack retained through the years of which were signed by friends, business associates and various notables, like Howard Hughes, Eva Peron, various generals, and Presidents.

A Saint? A Goddess? A Martyr? Most certainly a true Legend!

The photo to the left, signed to Jack Frye was the most precious of all the photos Joan found that day in the bottom of that dusty old crate. Even though she has since given the others to Jack�s daughter, she decided to keep this one, because she thought it was so special. However, unfortunately Joan became deathly ill. While she was in the hospital her family cleaned house for her and sent packing many items they thought were of no importance. When Joan returned home she was saddened to discover that her treasured photo of Eva Peron was missing. Meanwhile I came across the photo for sale on the internet. I immediately called Joan to inquire why she was selling it? After hearing her heartbreaking story and that she had not even a copy of it, I was able to cheer her by emailing a scan of the image. So in closing- Bless You Joan for saving these lost photos, for your detective work in finding their provenance and for sharing them with the world. For without your efforts, these images which were once treasured possessions of Jack Frye would most assuredly have ended up in a burn barrel!

Don't Cry For Me Argentina.... Valentines Day 1950
"Para Jack Frye con toda Simpatia...... Eva Peron 14 II 1950"
Translation- "For Jack Frye with total Sympathy- February 14, 1950"
Mystery is- what does the inscription imply? At the very least a special friendship between Eva Peron and Jack Frye, but anymore than that we will never know....

Rumors are often based in fact and within the legend of Jack Frye there has been told a special friendship with another legend named Eva Peron. I have not previously found evidence of this association but I am aware of Jack's development of South American air line. The photo above slams this rumor into fact when we see Eva's smiling face signed to Frye. It is highly unlikely Jack Frye solicited signed photos from his peers! They were given to him in regard to deep appreciation and affection of an association with him.

These lost photographs from Jack Frye's personal collection are just a fraction of what was once treasured by Jack Frye. These precious memories would have been lost forever if it not been for the generosity of Joan LaPlace. This special lady cannot be thanked enough for her thoughtfulness in sharing them with this Web Site, and later, with my encouragement with Jack's only daughter, Nevajac Frye!

"To Preserve, Protect, and Document"
the incredible Aviation Legacy and History of Jack Frye.

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Sedona Legend Helen Frye

the Jack and Helen Frye Story