R.I.P. Gordon Baxter

It's another loss for the aviation community.
I discovered his "Bax Seat" column by accident, when I was looking for Frank
Kingston Smith's "Weekend Pilot" , which took up the back page of FLYING
back in 1970, when I started to fly.

Add his name to Robert Blodget, Len Morgan, and a few others.
"Dave S" wrote in message
ink.net...
I came across his obituary today while reading the Houston Chronicle at
breakfast. For those who knew of him, his health had been poor for many
years, and his passing was inevitable. His columns were a regular read
when I subscribed to Flying in the early 80's

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory...olitan/3225894

OBITUARIES
Baxter, 81, radio host, columnist
By LYNWOOD ABRAM
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

Gordon "Bax" Baxter, radio personality, newspaper columnist, pilot and
writer whose unorthodox views and madcap style often got him fired, died
of respiratory problems Saturday in a Beaumont hospital. He was 81.

In a 50-year career, Baxter bounced from station to station in Southeast
Texas, but his fans seldom deserted him......

I'll never be Bax, but it's a great goal to keep in mind. I met him at
Oshkosh '95 when I was 14 years old. Back then, the idea of stringing
words together frightened me.

I still have a tape of the forum he led. It's in one of these desk
drawers, somewhere.. I've since got my ticket, worked with an air show
team, and moved on after the disaster I never dreamed would happen. I'm
now writing sports for a newspaper in a hole-in-the-wall town - One
day, I hope they'll have a slot open at Flying. :-D wishful thinking

I bet there's quite the reunion going on somewhere.. Len, Bax, Ernie
Gann.. Oh, to be a fly on the wall.

We'll miss him.

Would you consider Ernest Gann in that group?

I would. Along with Robert Parke, and Archie Trammel
"Tony" wrote in message
oups.com...
Would you consider Ernest Gann in that group?

In 1994, this hotshot young writer was invited to an "aviation author's"
party at the Flying house at Oshkosh. Figuring I'd go and wipe up the
opposition, I sat around humbled in the living room listening to Bax deliver
wave after wave of advice to those of us who couldn't hold a candle to him.

Talk about one of a kind...he could bring you from tears to howling laughter
within the space of a minute.

If I can, in any way, bring one PERCENT of how you brought aviation to us
all, I will have honored your memory in the fullest, sir.

In the immortal words of CapCom during the first launch, "God SPEED, Gordon
Baxter, God SPEED."

Jim

Just a note... Weekend Pilot was one of Smith's first. His last
"Weekend Wings" is still the best, and the one I always recommend to
folks wanting ot know what GA is all about.

BTW, I agree completely about reading Baxter's article about giving up
flying solo... You could just feel the pain in the story.

"Dave S" wrote in message
ink.net...
I came across his obituary today while reading the Houston Chronicle at
breakfast. For those who knew of him, his health had been poor for many
years, and his passing was inevitable. His columns were a regular read
when I subscribed to Flying in the early 80's

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory...olitan/3225894

OBITUARIES
Baxter, 81, radio host, columnist
By LYNWOOD ABRAM
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

Gordon "Bax" Baxter, radio personality, newspaper columnist, pilot and
writer whose unorthodox views and madcap style often got him fired, died
of respiratory problems Saturday in a Beaumont hospital. He was 81.

In a 50-year career, Baxter bounced from station to station in Southeast
Texas, but his fans seldom deserted him......

When Bax left, they broke the mould. Many will try to emulate him, but none
will succeed.

The world is a lesser place without him.


Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO

"Dave S" wrote:
I came across his obituary today while reading the Houston Chronicle at
breakfast.

Sad to hear. I miss him a lot.

his passing was inevitable.

That goes for all of us.
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM