Volume 9 , Issue 26

Memories of Flying Farmers & Gene McGill

We recently received a letter from Jack Kelsey this week, which included a copy of his family story he wrote for the Waynoka history book that the Waynoka Historical Society is helping organize and compile. That story is below in the Mailbag section. BUT... here are some memories Jack Kelsey shared with me concerning the Flying Farmers & Gene McGill.

Jack wrote, "We have very fond memories of the flying farmer organization. Your Dad was not only a member, but also one of the founders of the organization here in Oklahoma."

Jack Kelsey goes on to state that it was not long after Oklahoma was organized that it spread to other states and eventually became the National Flying Farmers organization.

Jack also says, "Your dad was one of the older flyers in Woods county (Oklahoma). I have very fond memories of Gene McGill. I flew to Nebraska with him once -- he was looking to purchase land. We stayed overnight in some town there and the next morning we found out that a tornado had almost wiped our the city of Woodward, Oklahoma. We were worried about our own family and homes, so we got into his Cessna 140 and flew directly to Woodward and observed the destruction there."

Jack also mentions in his letter, "As to your mention of Waynoka's railroad, Waynoka was no longer a division point, but they did have about 70 trains traveling through Waynoka everyday. Many of them have from two to four engines pulling about 100 or more cars. I agree it was great days for Waynoka when the division point was here."

Jack finishes by mentioning, "On weekends, thousands of people come from all over the U.S. to enjoy the sand dunes with their dune buggies and four-wheelers. I think Waynoka should be named the Dune Buggy Capitol of the World."
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