Newspapers / Piedmont Aviation Employee Newsletter / Dec. 1, 1953, edition 1 / Page 3
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' '-M 1 KENTUCK Ky, Department of Aeronautics Photos THE LOZ STORY .. Ted Arnold There is located in the foothills of the Cumberland Mountains, about 84 miles southeast of Lexington and about 177 miles northwest of the Tri Cities, a little town with the high-sounding name of London. For years there were a- mong the farmers and small town tradesmen, some who dreamed of a time when those new-fangled air ma chines would "set down" at Jody Field, a small dirt strip on the edge of town. About this time there was a fellow who had worked for one of those "Air Ma chine Companies" just over the moun tain at TRI. He had been with the Company for some time and had just about given up hope of ever having a station of his own. It seems that he had just about become a permanent fixture at this station. But, he still had that deep hankerin' for a station of his own. Still another side of this triangle ex isted down in the flat country of Nawth Cawlina. There was stationed at FAY an easy-going fellow who yearned to be closer to those beloved foothills of Georgia, around Chattanooga. Then, too, this fellow wanted to get closer to a certain radio station that gave out with his favorite hillbilly music, name ly WCKY. In the meantime things were happen ing that seemed to draw these three factions together. First, the CAB promised the people of London that if they would team up with their sister community of Corbin and raise one- fourth the money to build a modern airport on the site of Jody Field they , with the State of Kentucky, would fur nish the rest of the money. Also, the CAB promised these people that Pied mont Airlines would furnish them air service. So the good people of Lon don called on the people of Corbin. But here they ran into a snag - it seems about this time Corbin had put out the money for a new water works. In other words, they were financially embarrassed. But, of course, the fact that Corbin had the L &: N Rail road shops and were 12 miles from the site of Jody Field didn't have any thing to do with their reluctance in putting out the money. Even with this setback these same old-timers of London whom had visioned "bigguns" landing at Jody Field, would not give up the idea. So, they dug a little deeper and put up their part plus what Corbin was to have put up. True to their promise, the State of Kentucky and the Federal Government came through with their part. During the course of the next two years, after overcoming numerous obstacles the airport was finished. Now all they needed to make their dreams come true was for Piedmont to start land ing those "bigguns" at Jody Field. Now that all three parts of this tri angle were finally taking shape, it wouldn't be long before those old- timers at London would see those "bigguns" swooping down on Jody Field. But, you wouldn't recognize the little dirt strip at the edge of town. It had developed into a small but modern airfield. It now boasted a 4, 000 foot hard surfaced runway and a modern two-story terminal building. So, those old dreamers of London, a community of a mere 3, 500 sould could be justly proud of their accomplishments. Finally, the big day arrived - OCTOBER FIRST. It was on all the lips of the 3, 500 people of London plus people from all over southeastern Kentucky; Piedmont Airlines would make her debut before this gathering. By this time Ted Arnold had turned over his Chief Agent job to Don Woods and had departed TRI. Carl Simpson had left FAY and was on his way to join the staff at London. In fact, he completed the staff at said station. This, fine readers, is called the LOZ story Watch your step for this could happen to you t -3- 4
Piedmont Aviation Employee Newsletter
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Dec. 1, 1953, edition 1
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