The beginning of Arizona Air Transport &
Transcontinental and Western Air- TWA
June 6, 1948
(20 Years Of Air Progress)
caption reads:
Phoenix's first airline service, Standard Airlines to Los Angeles, started by Jack Frye, was provided by this single-engine Fokker. Frye, who later headed TWA for years is fifth from the left. Third from the left is Frank Jefferson.
All the billions of dollars that Arizona has raked in from tourism through the years started at this time period, and in part with Jack Frye. This aviator is credited with turning Arizona from a dry sand-swept wasteland, into a tourist Mecca of which the result is evident today. Through his trans-state airline he promoted Arizona heavily. He personally flew celebrities, tourists, and investors to Arizona for socializing, recreation, and investments. Many were personal friends and bought property and businesses here. Jack believed in Arizona, which he considered his adopted state, and owned over 50 thousand acres of Arizona ranch land here by 1948! The people and business interests he brought to the state of Arizona were invaluable! Jack at the end of his life was instrumental in bringing a major aircraft manufacturing plant to Tucson, a city he loved. The lady pictured with Jack, is his first wife Debbie D. Greer, married in Los Angeles by a judge in 1924. Debbie was from San Antonio Texas, and Jack was from Wheeler County Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Frye lived in Los Angeles. Other residents of the Frye home in the 1920's- were Debbie's mother, Jack's brother Don, and sister Opal. Everyone was trying hard to get established in this new land of opportunities. Debbie was also a member of the Los Angeles Follies, and worked at a large mercantile at Manchester and Western Avenues. Later in 1932, she and Jack were divorced. She eventually remarried and moved to Hawaii. After a second divorce she returned to Texas where she passed away many years ago. If you have any information on Debbie D. Greer, who was married to Jack Frye from September 4, 1924 (one source says 9-24) to 09-09-32, please E-Mail me!
(Debbie D. Greer, possibly-- born in 1902--Hearne, Robertson County, Texas.)
TUCSON-PHOENIX-LOS ANGELES
President Frye Pilots Passenger Carrying Plane In On Time,
Inaugurating Service; Early Transportation Event Recalled
November 28, 1927
In place of the sedate, mature Charles Crocker, president of Southern Pacific Railroad Company, who headed the delegation of officials and passengers who came to Tucson at 11:00 a.m. March 20, 1880, was the youthful Jack Frye, president of Aero Corporation of California who piloted his plane to the Mayse Airport at exactly 5 p.m. November 28, 1927. And in place of a number of other mature officials who came with Crocker were a number of youthful young men.
R.E. Edwards, vice-president of the air corporation and a former Tucsonan was the first to alight on the local field. He was followed from the comfortable cabin by O.E. Whitman, assistant to D.G. Spilsbury of the Arizona Industrial Congress, and Wayne Richardson of the Associated Press Bureau in Phoenix. With them they brought a consignment of mail and express.
More than a hundred aviation fans had gathered at the airport yesterday afternoon to greet them on their arrival. Several thousand gathered 47 years ago to see the big iron horse pull into the local station. A more sophisticated public is among the changes wrought in the interim.
A large basket of flowers was the gift of Tucson to the air pioneers yesterday afternoon while 47 years ago Tucson presented the transportation pioneers with a silver spike. And met them with a brass band and a salute of 38 guns, that took them through the streets in a parade, and staged a banquet and "soiree' " that lasted many hours, being terminated only when Saturday turned to Sunday and religious duties called the revelers to their homes.
In Two Sections
Accompanying the big Aero Corporation monoplane was a smaller plane, an Eagle Rock biplane, which came over from Los Angeles to carry extra express, and to bring a pilot here who will fly the second Aero Corporation monoplane back to the coast. The second plane has been in a hangar for several days. The Eagle Rock plane was piloted by Leo Schoenhair as passenger-pilot.
Jack Frye who piloted the plane (Fokker F-VII) on its maiden trip, will fly back to Tucson tomorrow on the second run of the schedule, bringing another pilot with him who will take the plane back. Frye will remain in Tucson for several days on business and will go to Phoenix before resuming his piloting work. R.A. Edwards who came all the way over from Los Angeles on the first trip, is staying here today and will return tomorrow or on a later trip.
Business-like and punctual, the passenger and express plane which came to Tucson yesterday afternoon on schedule left this morning at 8 a.m. exactly on schedule for the return trip. Sam Elrod local realtor, L.C. James, automobile dealer, and the Mensrs. Whitman and Richardson occupied seats in the cabin of the plane, while behind them were a number of express packages for Phoenix and the coast. Early this afternoon the plane will be back in Los Angeles, and by the time this paper is in the hands of subscribers, the first round trip will have been completed and be but one important episode in Tucson's history of transportation.
When First Train Came
The coming of the first regular express and passenger plane recalls stirring events of the coming of the first train. The mayor and council together with fully a hundred committeeman backed by thousands of Tucsonans greeted the train upon its arrival at the depot. The Hon. William S. Oury welcomed the iron horse to Tucson and the Hon. Esteven Ochoa presented the officials with a silver spike, made from silver mined at the Tough Nut mine in Tombstone. Business houses of the city were closed and homes and business house were not only decorated but "illuminated" that night, in honor of the occasion.
From the depot the procession moved with stately regality. The parade having been carefully planned by a "carriage" committee, led to Park Hall, where an elaborate banquet was served, toasts given and later a soiree' held.
Committees named Mayor R.N. Leatherwood for the occasion, were the following: reception, finance, arrangements, invitations, introduction, toasts and speeches, decorations, floor managers, and carriages. The names of these committeemen read like a directory of Tucson's "Who's Who of 1880." and include a few pioneers still residents of the city, many, fathers of present day merchants.
Following a sumptuous meal the toasts began. First it was "To the President," then "To the Southern Pacific," then "To Tucson," "To the Army," "To Bench and Bar," To Commerce," and "To Our Sister Republic." The list ran on and on with full respect being given those and many others. "To the Press," "To Mining," "To Pioneers," "To the Postal Service," To Education," and finally "To Absent Friends." Each toast called forth choice oratory of the day, to such extent that two full pages of a local Tucson weekly newspaper were required to chronical these words of wisdom.
It was at this banquet that decision was made, so Tucson legend runs, to send the Pope a telegram telling him about Tucson being connected with the outside world, to which was replied, "Where the Hell is Tucson? " The Tucson wag who faked the reply was never caught.
Fully 100 people attended the grand soiree' which followed the banquet and filled Park Hall to overflowing that evening. Music was furnished by the Sixth Cavalry band of Fort Lowell. The dance terminated shortly after midnight. Other accounts recall how Tucson celebrated for a week's time.
Tribute to Steam
"The railroad comes," a newspaper duly recorded, "like a giant anaconda, embracing the continent in its coil and its ponderous machinery breathes the vitality of civilization in sonorous respirations, breaking the silence of the desert and awakening the feverberations (sic) of the mountains for the first time since the planet commenced its revolutions in the universe."
"The ancient pueblo of Tucson is roused from the lethargy of ages and is embraced by the net work of the civilized world," it continues."
"The vitalizing power of steam infuses new energy into the merchants, new hope into the miner, brings comfort to the farmer, and sends the products to busy hands in the hum of human industry."
"The railway comes booming across the desert a thousand miles," the account runs, "from the Golden Gate to Asia, without a subsidy, without a land grant, without a mortgage on posterity, and is as welcome to Arizona as the fertilizing stream that makes the desert bloom like a rose."
(Mayse Airport is where the now, Tucson Rodeo Grounds is in South Tucson, near Old Tucson Studios.)
Elrod and James Urge Use of Planes for Trade Trips
November 29, 1927
The Tucsonans were two of the four passengers carried out this morning on the return trip of the first round-trip made by the Aero Corporation of California. An hour and ten minutes after they left the Mayse Airport here, they were in Phoenix. Both transacted business there during the day, and returned to the city on the train last night, the train time being slightly in excess of 4 hours.
"The air trip to Phoenix is well worth the cost from the scenic standpoint alone," said Mr. James who is a dyed-in-the-wool air fan. "The view of the mountains and valleys with the cultivated areas looming up is excellent. In addition the time and convenience of traveling by air makes it a particularly good mode of travel."
Sam Elrod, local realtor, who is particularly interested in the development of the Granada Fig Farms, was impressed with the view of the state obtained by such a trip.
"It is the coming mode of travel," he said this morning, "after my arrival in Phoenix, I went to Casa Grande by automobile, transacting some business there in addition to the Phoenix trip, returning to the city by train last night."
"I have been interested in the Casa Grande valley for some time, but did not know before I made this trip, just how much land there really was in cultivation there, and the progress being made."
Both recommended the trip to their friends and predict prosperity for the air line just established.
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Sedona Legend Helen Frye