Famous People 2  

During my 31 years at Boeing I was fortunate to meet many famous people in industry, and government.

Mr. William M. Allen - Chairman & President, The Boeing Company

Mr. Allen was a man of tremendous integrity.  He became President as World War II ended and was confronted with saving the company. Through good times and bad his guidance produced the World's largest aerospace company of our time.  My greatest honor was that HE considered me HIS friend.  Mr. Allen passed away while I was in Asia. On the occasions when my wife and I would return to Seattle, we would take Mrs. Allen out to dinner. 

KINGS: - 2

Jordan's King Hussein, who along with Mr. Allen, rode with me on Jetfoil 001.  He was an expert pilot and he had come to Seattle to fly the latest airplane being delivered to Air Jordan.  Mr. Allen convinced him to take a ride on the Jetfoil.  He flew it around the Sound and had a great time.

King of Malaysia.  He was also the Sultan of Johore.  The first time we met, before he became King, I was playing golf on HIS golf course just across the causeway from Singapore.  He had the right of way on the course. When he went through us he stopped for a chat..

Premiers - 1

Premier Deng Xiaoping of China.  When he visited Seattle we hosted his delegation, plus US dignitaries and key Boeing people, on a Jetfoil flight of the Seattle waterfront.  With the aid of his interpreter, I briefed him about what the ship was doing and how. (Note:  I had already been to China about Jetfoils.  On the day that diplomatic relations were restored with the US I was at the Great Wall of China.)

Prime Ministers - 3

Mrs. Margaret Thatcher - United Kingdom

Lee Kwan Yew - Singapore

Go Chok Tong - Singapore - Mr. Lee's successor.

Presidents - 4

Wee Kim Wee - Singapore

Pak Suharto - Indonesia

B. J. Habibie - Indonesia - Pak Suharto's successor.

Gerald Ford - USA    During a visit to Seattle President Ford took a ride around the waterfront on the Jetfoil. I was his briefer.  I had met and briefed President Ford on BOMARC when he was a Congressman.

US Ambassadors:  Several

Norway - Sweden - Indonesia (2) - Singapore - Thailand

I served as an Aerospace consultant to both Indonesian Ambassadors and the Singapore Ambassador while I lived there. 

World's Most Beautiful Sandwich Board Person

    At least I thought so. We're now in our 70's and still happily married. Of all the great things that happened in my life, B is by far the greatest! She's still the most beautiful women I ever met!!!