Vol. 22 January – March 2017 No. 1

President’s Message Larry Skinner

2017! How is that possible! When you

were a teenager, how many of you

thought 30 was old and 50 was what…

Elderly? Ancient? Well, thank

goodness we weren’t right back then, because

seventy, eighty, and ninety is where we are now –

and that makes the fifty- and sixty-year olds seem

like “Whippersnappers!” What the heck is a

Whippersnapper anyway? I know the years are

flying by, and we all have issues to deal with, but I

hope each year creates more fond memories for each

of us. Oh yeah, and be sure to thank God for that

pension!

In early March, it was my pleasure to participate in

the tour of the Jefferson Street Facility (JSF) and the

Building 35 Restoration Programs by the

Commemorative Air Force. I can attest that these

folks were truly impressed by the work that our

VAHF volunteers are doing. And believe me, these

people know their airplanes. Hats off to Jim Hill

and his gang! By the way, did you know that the

assembly lines at JSF produced more planes during

World War II than any other factory in America? (I

didn’t either!)

Does anyone else miss the Management Club

outings at Nine Acres in Colleyville as much as I

do? I tried to find where Nine Acres was in

Colleyville a few years ago, but couldn’t quite

locate it. Kinda sad. And remember the Annual

Food Drives? Also a lot of fun (maybe an overkill,

but for a very good cause). A bunch of us are

volunteering for three or four hours at the North

Texas Food Bank in Oak Cliff in Dallas on May

10th

. Let us know if you are interested in joining

us!

While on the subject of volunteering, kudos to Jim

Minge and the employees of Texas Trust Credit

Union for volunteering at Mission Arlington on

Presidents Day afternoon. Let’s see – 260 people x

4 hours = 1,040 Hours of much needed work at that

great local charity !

Also, Congrats to TTCU for reaching $1 Billion in

assets in December, and announcing the merger

with Qualtrust FCU ($200 Million in assets) in

February.

Our condolences to Cathy Linney, President of the

East Texas Chapter of the Vought Retiree Club, on

the loss of her husband Jim, following a lengthy

illness. Jim fought a courageous battle.

Last, but not least, a reminder – our annual Meeting

and BBQ will NOT be held in June. The BBQ will

be moved to October 4. WHY? Instead, on June 21,

the Vought Aircraft Heritage Foundation (VAHF)

will hold a celebration to mark the 100th

year since

Chance Vought was founded!

I hope you all have a very enjoyable Spring (which

actually started around January 15th

this year!), and

we’ll talk with you again this Summer.

Larry

East Texas Chapter Cathy Linney

The ET Vought retirees gathered at

Golden Homestead in Golden, Texas

for their Spring meeting. The place is

fascinating and the homemade food

really delicious. Our speaker, Michael Morton, told

a gripping story of his wrongful conviction for the

murder of his wife. After 25 years in the state

penitentiary system, he was exonerated, but getting

back his life was impossible. His upbeat and

positive attitude was felt by all, and we wish him

the very best as he continues his life in east Texas.

(for photos of this event, see pages 5-6)

I must say the first part of 2017 has been a rough

“go” for me and my family. I lost my beloved Jim.

But all the sadness makes me pause and reflect on

why we all come together to share a meal and share

our stories — either old or new. It is called “caring”

for one another. And the East Texas Retirees know

how to do that!

We also lost Gerry Leonard in January. Oh my,

when I think of the last time I saw her — she was at

Sky Ranch and looked so pretty and she was so

gracious to me for ordering her shrimp fettuccine —

and her beautiful smile as we were leaving, I will

never forget.

The East Texas officers have agreed to make our

June meeting be to travel together on a bus to Dallas

for The Lewis & Vought Aircraft Company 100th

Anniversary celebration at the Frontiers of Flight

Museum on June 21, 2017. Hopefully, we can get

enough members together to make this trip. The

bus would leave from either Tyler or Mineola with

lunch provided at the event. The cost would be

minimal ($10). Anyone interested please let one of

the East Texas officers know.

We have not planned our September meeting.

We will again be at Sky Ranch for our Christmas

luncheon on Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at 11:00

a.m.

Happy Easter to you all, and may God bless you!

Cathy

Editor’s note:

(see page 3 for the memorial for Jim Linney)

Volunteer Events by Johnnie Johnson

North Texas Food Bank

food into boxes for distribution to the clients of the

NTFB.

We will work at the NTFB facility in Oak Cliff in

Dallas. Tentative time is 10:00-12:00 noon. There

will be a car pool for those wishing to get a ride to

the NTFB; it will leave from the Texas Trust

Credit Union building parking lot in Cordovan

Park at 5840 W. I-20 in southwest Arlington.

Please call Johnnie Johnson (at 817-845-7576) if

you are interested.

Thanks in advance for your help!

In Memoriam by Ann Christmas

The Retiree Club has been notified since our last

newsletter of the following deceased members.

Our sincere sympathy goes out to the families of

those listed. Each will be missed.

Clara Louise Heimburger Rienzi – 10-6-16

Elva B. McClay – 11-20-16

Dale Sears – 11-20-16

Gary Eugene Forsythe – 12-13-16

James W. McNeil – 1-23-17

Manon Eudora Metcalf – 1-29-17

Henry L. (Hank) Brautigam – 2-15-17

James A. (Jim) Linney – 2-22-17

Margaret (Marge) Mary Cuff – 4-2-17

Alexander (Alex) Gillies McCulloch– 4-2-17

(nephew of Bob McCulloch)

James Chester (J.C.) Foster – 4-9-17

2017 Dues Reminder – Last Call ! by Gaye Kortegast

I would like to remind those of you that have not yet

sent in your 2017 membership dues that this will be

your last newsletter. (If you’re not sure whether or

not you’ve renewed you may check the mailing

label on this newsletter for status of your

membership.) If you would like to renew for 2017,

please send your dues as soon as you can. The cost

is still $5.00 per person per year. You may renew

for as many years as you desire. Or, Lifetime

memberships are available at $50 per person.

We hope to hear from you soon. Thank you.

In Memory of Jim Linney (former

Our volunteers will go to the North

Texas Food Bank (NTFB) on May

10, 2017, to help package donated

Renew your membership for 2017,

to continue getting your

Vought Retiree Club News!

Call the Club at (817) 478-1885 Chairman of Major Programs – Jim Hill or Email: retireeclub@vought.org V.P. - Membership Assistant – Ann Christmas

membershiprc@vought.org

Visit the Vought.org website !

Remember to check out our website, Vought.org. You’ll find lots of Vought history, as well as past Newsletters and Contact information. The site is maintained by Roger Stites.

In Memory of Jim Linney (Sergeant-at-Arms of East Texas Chapter), husband of Cathy Linney (East Texas Chapter President)

James Alton (Jim) Linney (February 8, 1933 - February 22, 2017)

James A. (Jim) Linney, 84, of Whitehouse, TX,

passed away peacefully with his loving wife at his

side on Wednesday, February, 22, 2017 at The

Hospice of East Texas after a brave battle with

cancer. James was born on Wednesday, February 8,

1933, in Houston, TX, to the late James Alton

Linney, Sr. and Helen Ruth Bigler Linney.

His favorite passions were volunteering over the last

20 years for Habitat for Humanity, The Hospice of

East Texas, Meals on Wheels, St. Paul's Children's

Foundation, and Marvin Menders. Prior to his

volunteering activities, he worked with his sister

Alta Lee in the drapery business. James and his wife

Cathy were members of Marvin United Methodist

Church in Tyler, TX.

James is survived by his loving wife of 25 years,

Billie "Cathy" Catherine Linney; sons, David

Linney and wife Debbie of Beaumont, Michael

Linney and wife Anna of Castle Rock, Colorado,

Greg Linney and wife Jackie of Houston, and

Timothy Linney of Houston, Sean Hester and wife

Andrea of College Station; daughters, Beth Henry

and husband Dan of Waco, Karla Cochran of Irvine,

California; grandchildren, Susan, David, Kylan,

Austin, Kylee, Derek, Josh, Megan, Michael, Alex,

Travis, Sarah, Caleb, Travis, Connor Samuel,

Kersten, and Jonathan; eight great-grandchildren;

one great-great-grandchild; and a host of nieces and

nephews.

James was preceded in death by his parents, sister,

Alta Lee Fontana and son, Phillip Andrew Linney.

There will be a Memorial Service for family and

friends to celebrate the life of Jim on Saturday,

February 25, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. at Marvin United

Methodist Church, 300 W. Erwin Street, Tyler, TX

75702.

Memorial contributions may be made to The

Hospice of East Texas Foundation, 4111 University

Blvd., Tyler, TX 75701 or Marvin UMC Missions,

300 W. Erwin Street, Tyler, TX 75702. - See more at:

http://obituaries.tylerpaper.com/obituaries/tylerpaper/obituary.

aspx?pid=184231966#sthash.KdEBdpbO.dpuf

Thank You to Texas Trust Credit Union

To Jim Minge and his organization:

Many thanks for your most generous assistance over

the years in providing office space, storage space,

and equipment. It was a life saver when we lost our

facility at Building 76. The donated office space,

currently used by the Retiree Club and VAHF

Archive offices, has allowed us to operate

effectively once more. The storage building

allowed the massive Vought Historical Archives

files to continue operations. The Credit Union and

Vought have always been closely allied since the

inception of the “Vought Credit Union” many years

ago. Congratulations are also in order for the

growth into TTCU as a major organization.

Larry Skinner – President, Vought Retiree Club

Jim Hill – CEO, Vought Heritage Foundation

Dick Atkins – Director, Vought Historical Archive

Retiree Correspondence

My wife & I both turned 91 years this past year, and

celebrated 70 years together. We have moved to a

retirement home, Waterford in Pantego. Keep up

the good work. Jim & Marge Cuff

Hello to all there. My wife, Peggy, and I are in Sun

City Center, Florida. Enjoy the newsletter.

Olen Jones

Such an interesting and informative magazine.

Great job! Mary Saleh

We enjoy the Newsletters.

Dayton & Billie J. Duncan

Letter from Bob Shultz, memorializing his friend

Doyle Stokes, and donating $200 to the Vought

Aircraft Heritage Foundation Restoration effort --

Letter from Evan Cotten --

Vought Retiree Club Caps + T-Shirts

Vought Retiree Club caps, in blue or white, are also

available for $10.00 each + $5.00 shipping.

The T-Shirt for the “96 Years” celebration was a hit,

and sold out. They have been reordered, and you

can pick one up at the Retiree Club office for $15,

or have it sent via Priority Mail for an extra $5.

Other T-Shirts available are a blue Vought Retiree

Club T-Shirt, and T-Shirts for the V-173 Flying

Pancake & the F7U-3 Cutlass ($10+$5 shipping) –

Call (817) 478-1885

or email retireeclub@vought.org

East Texas Spring Meeting at Golden Homestead in Golden, Texas

Charles Boyd, speaker Michael Morten, and Melba

Boyd --

Michael Barry (center), and Ken Cue (on right) --

Nina Montgomery and Doris Cummings --

Helen Wright, Anita Defoor, Jackie Defoor, and

Norris Wright (back of head) –

George Carlisle facing camera –

Ken Cue, Steve Herrick, and Ernie Vogt --

Texas Trust Credit Union Training Day helping Mission Arlington

ARLINGTON, Texas – February 28, 2017 –

Employees of Texas Trust Credit Union spent

President’s Day volunteering at the Mission

Arlington charity organization.

Nearly all of Texas Trust’s 260 employees took part

in the President’s Day volunteer effort, which was

part of the credit union’s annual all-employee

training event.

This was Texas Trust’s fifth annual employee

training event, which is held every President’s Day.

Besides the large scale volunteer effort, Texas Trust

employees assembled for an awards ceremony, the

2017 “state of the credit union” assessment, and

enjoyed lunch together.

Employees were bused to Mission Arlington and

divided into teams of 10. Each team worked in a

different area within the Mission. Teams unloaded

food trucks and restocked the food bank; sorted

clothes for the community closet; organized

supplies and materials for after-school programs;

and relocated hundreds of Bibles and other books so

the Mission can make repairs to the water-damaged

library.

The faith-based Mission Arlington charity feeds,

clothes, mentors, and nurtures the hearts and spirits

of those in need. It is led by Tillie Burgin, an

Arlington native and former missionary in South

Korea. She launched Mission Arlington with the

support of her church family at First Baptist

Arlington in 1986.

“Your effort has helped us reset and put us in a

good place to be able to better serve,” Burgin told

Texas Trust’s employees. “We had been going

backwards these last several weeks, but now our

trucks have been unloaded and our shelves are full

of food, clothing, and supplies.”

In addition to their time and effort, a number of

Texas Trust employees also donated a personal day

off back to the company, amounting to $8,220 that

the credit union is giving to Mission Arlington.

About Texas Trust Credit Union

Texas Trust Credit Union was created in 1936 when

a group of Chance Vought Aircraft Corporation

employees pooled their savings so they could help

each other achieve financial goals. Today, more

than 84,500 members are served through checking

and savings accounts; loans (personal, mortgage,

auto, and small business); credit cards; insurance

products; and investment services. Texas Trust

Credit Union supports local students through its

“Spirit Debit Rewards” program. With every swipe

of an eligible SDR card, funds are donated to the

school or district of the member’s choosing. To

date, Texas Trust has donated over $1.3 million

since August 2011. Texas Trust serves members in

Dallas, Tarrant, Henderson, Ellis, and Johnson

counties through 17 locations in Mansfield,

Arlington, Grand Prairie, Cedar Hill, Midlothian,

DeSoto, Hurst, and Athens. With assets of $1

billion, Texas Trust is one of the largest credit

unions in North Texas, and the 17th largest in

Texas. For more information, visit

TexasTrustCU.org or on facebook.com/texastrustcu

or on Twitter at @texastrustcu.

Origin of the term “Whippersnapper”

Since Larry Skinner in his President’s Message

brought up the term “Whippersnapper” and asked

what the heck it means, it is now incumbent on us

to learn what it actually does mean.

“Whippersnapper” is now a rather archaic term,

and, although you might hear it in black and white

British films, those who are young and streetwise

enough to actually be whippersnappers aren't likely

to use it.

“Whippersnappers” were known by various names,

all of them derived from the habit of young

layabouts of hanging around snapping whips to

pass the time. Originally, these ne'er-do-wells

were known simply, and without any great

linguistic imagination, as “whip snappers”. This

term merged with an existing 17th century term for

street rogues – “snipper snappers”, to become

“whippersnapper”.

The meaning of 'whipper snapper' has altered over

the years, originally referring to a young person who

annoys older people by being overconfident and

acting like someone important while having no

apparent get up and go, and an excess of both

ambition and impudence.

Restoration Volunteer recovering from broken wrist

Earl Hastings broke his wrist at home and has

recovered from his injury.

We all are grateful for Earl’s recovery.

Nine Acres

Nine Acres was an entertainment complex and

country western dance hall at 815 McDonwell

School Road (south side of road) in Colleyville,

Texas (just east of Precinct Line Road). Since

around 2000, it has been replaced by high-end

“villas” in Rosewood Villas and the Villas of

Colleyville.

People would go there every Friday/Saturday night.

It was just a huge place out in the country sitting in

the middle of a pasture. You brought your own beer

and whiskey, etc., and just paid a cover charge and

bought set-ups. It was so big that you could get lost

just going to the restrooms.

Nine Acres got its name from the nine acres of

ranch land on which it sat. It preserved the family

atmosphere of the Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas,

and avoided the pickup crowd (and we don’t mean

the Chevy version) with a couples-only admittance

rule. The dance floor was very large; the mood was

informal and comfortable. Nine Acres was a great

place for groups and good country fun.

Chance Vought Survivors

Chance Vought Survivors is a group of retirees who

had worked for Chance Vought Aircraft. The only

requirement for membership is to have worked for

Chance Vought Aircraft prior to October 1961. For

more information, see:

http://www.vought.org/special/html/ssurvivors.html

Complimentary mailing service by Triumph has

ended. Survivors wishing to continue receiving

meeting notices should send their Email addresses

to Dick Guthrie at richardguth56@msn.com.

Again, Larry Skinner,

in his President’s

Message, mentioned

Nine Acres in

Colleyville, so here is

the information on it.

Commemorative Air Force (CAF)

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF)

Headquarters is now located in Dallas at Executive

Airport, formerly Red Bird Airport.

They have an FG-1D Corsair, and are raising funds

to replace the engine and do other restoration.

Executive Committee meets the first Wednesday of each month

meet at 9:15 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each

month in the office suite generously provided by

Texas Trust Credit Union in Cordovan Park at

5840 W. I-20 in southwest Arlington.

Restoration News by Jim Hill

The Vought Heritage Foundation’s Restoration

group has been working on the O3U3 and F7U3.

Photos of the work in progress follow --

O3U3 Restoration

The O3U3 model at the National Naval Aviation

Museum in Pensacola, Florida –

Stu Reichert, Bruce White, and Dick Guthrie, with

the fabric cover of the O3U3 --

Bill Condon working on the O3U3 engine cowl --

Pat O’Hara, Jim Ross, Rusty Barnum, and Jerry

Fisher with vent for O3U3 –

Even though the VAHF

Restoration crew has moved

back into the old Vought

plant facilities, the Executive

Committee of the Vought

Retiree Club will continue to

Bill Privett, Stan Bullard, and Dillon Smith, with

the O3U3 fuselage --

Pat O’Hara and Rusty Barnum working with the

O3U3 engine cover tool --

Howard Widmann working on O3U3 wing flap --

Jerry Fisher and Bob Szabados with the O3U3

pontoon dolly --

Huey Barrilleaux and Bob Essler working on

instruments for O3U3 –

Don Branton with wing for O3U3 --

F7U3 Restoration

The F7U in flight –

Don Branton, Stan Bullard, Bob Szabados, and

Frank Laubenthal with wing panel for F7U3 --

Jim Hill, Wat Watkins, Pat O’Hara, Stan Bullard,

and Huey Barrilleaux with wing panel for F7U3 --

Richard Roberson and Frank Laubenthal with the

F7U3 Wing Outer Panel –

Richard Roberson working on the F7U3 Wing

Outer Panel --

Wat Watkins working on the F7U3 ejection seat --

Wat Watkins working on the F7U3 nose cone --

North Texas Food Bank President and CEO Jan Pruitt passes Jan Pruitt, who led the North Texas Food Bank for

two decades, passed on January 2, 2017 at the age

of 63. The NTFB is housed in an 82,000-square-

foot warehouse off Cockrell Hill Road in southern

Dallas. The facility looks like the world’s biggest

Sam’s Club, or a jet-aircraft factory.

Below is the letter written by the interim CEO --

To view this memorial tribute to Jan Pruitt, go to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzU7Ew0luhM

&feature=youtu.be

Jan rode a mechanical bull in May 2015 at the

“Taste of the NFL” bash at AT&T Stadium -- it was

her first time doing such a thing, Jan said. But, the

NTFB’s longtime president and CEO added,

“anything for a good cause. It’s all about feeding

kids in our community.”

NOTE: Although the flyer says that the bus from East Texas will leave from Tyler,

this is still TBD (either from Tyler or Mineola); those riding the bus will be informed.

Vought Retiree Club

5840 W I-20, Suite #280

Arlington, TX 76017-1098

Officers: Directors:

President – Larry Skinner Activities – Pat Patterson

1st Vice President – Karen Sauls Annual Meeting – Sue Nutt

2nd Vice President – Gaye Kortegast Historian – Don Higginbotham

Treasurer – Madie Vernon Materials/Sales – Bill Strother

Secretary – Vynita Hutson Mailing – Bob Snegon

Sergeant-at-Arms – Wat Watkins Newsletter and Publicity – Bob Bardo

Past President – Charlie King Newsletter Editor Emeritus – Connie Singleton

Phone Bank – Gene Cates

Volunteer Programs – Johnnie Johnson

East Texas President – Cathy Linney Technical Support and Website* – Roger Stites

Call the Club at (817) 478-1885 Chairman of Major Programs – Jim Hill

Email: retireeclub@vought.org V.P. - Membership Assistant – Ann Christmas membershiprc@vought.org

*Vought Heritage Website: www.vought.org

Retirees, call the “Benefits Center” toll free 1-800-577-2145 with all your questions on retiree benefits.

Printing services provided by Texas Trust Credit Union.

First Class US Postage Paid Arlington, TX Permit No. 295