Raymond Wilson

Early Life and Military Career
Ray Wilson was born in Newton, Illinois, on September 2, 1900, and lived a quiet but busy farm life. He worked hard for his education, eventually working his way through the University of Illinois, where he joined the Reserve Officers Training Program (ROTC)to help with the costs of schooling. Ray graduated from this program with an Army Aviation Observer's rating and was chosen to be in the first flight school class to be held at Brooks Field in San Antonio, Texas.
In Denver, "Pappy" worked with the Denver Gas & Electric Co. He continued flying, and became involved in the organization of the 120th Observation Squadron of the Colorado National Guard in 1924. Ray became the permanent duty officer of the 120th Squadron and he flew charter flights in his spare time.
Civilian Flight and Ray Wilson Flight School
He obtained his commercial license in 1927, and in 1929 became a full-time commercial flyer, working with the ill-fated Curtiss-Wright Flying Service as operations manager, chief pilot and head instructor. The Great Depression closed this operation in 1931. From 1929 to 1941, Ray piloted the "Christmas Cross" a 20x30 foot cross attached to the underside of a plane, through the skies over Denver each Christmas Eve. Ray also operated the Park Hill airport and opened the Ray Wilson Flight School. He later barnstormed from Denver throughout the area to attract customers. He flew "penny-a-pound" flights, which introduced many folks to the fun of flying.
Monarch Air Lines, Inc. and Subsequent Mergers
In 1939, Ray filed for authority to operate a scheduled airline, Monarch Air Lines, Inc., through the Rocky Mountain area. World War II caused approval of his airline to be deferred until 1946. In 1950 Monarch purchased Arizona Airways and later joined with Challenger Airlines to become the Frontier Airlines.
Ray served as Denver’s Director of Aviation from 1961 to 1969 and aviation advisor to the Public Utilities Commission in Denver. "Pappy" was honored by the OX-5 Hall of Fame and other groups.
Ray passed away May 11, 1979.

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