Son Of Piper Aircraft Founder Was 95

It is with sadness Aero-News recently learned of the passing of Bill Piper Jr... son of Piper Aircraft founder William Thomas Piper, Sr. and an accomplished aviator in his own right. Piper Jr. died the morning of August 24, after a brief illness. He was 95.

He was born the eldest of five children on September 8, 1911. Piper Sr. purchased the Taylor Brothers Aircraft Company at a bankruptcy sale, and began production of a new model of aircraft dubbed "the Cub." Bill Piper Jr. eventually took over as president of the company.

The younger Piper learned to fly while working in his father's aircraft plant. He was a record-breaking pilot, and was one of the last acknowledged flying daredevils of the 1930s, reported the Williamsport Sun-Gazette.

Later in life, Piper Jr. headed up one of the most successful aircraft manufacturing companies in the nation, that boasted revenues in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

"He was always such a nice guy," said lifelong friend and legendary Hollywood columnist James Bacon. "He accomplished a lot in his life, though you'd never know it from talking to him. He was very unassuming,"

"He didn't like fancy foods or fancy things," said his stepson, Bill. "He liked cheese and crackers. He was really down to earth. He wasn't full of himself at all."

"He was the kind of guy -- and so was his brother, Howard, who we called 'Pug' -- who wandered around all the time, wandered through the Piper plant," said Piper Aviation Museum president Cecil Hazlett, a former Piper Aircraft employee. "Like his old man, he knew a lot of people's names.

"It was never mister this or mister that ... It was always Pug and Bill."

Piper Jr. was named president of Piper Aircraft in 1968; in 1970, he was named Chairman of the Board, a position he would hold until 1973.

In 1970, he was a founding boardmember of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA.) Piper Jr. received the association’s Distinguished Service Award following his chairmanship in 1973.

"Bill is a true icon in our industry and one who made countless contributions to the success and vitality of general aviation worldwide," said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and all those that he touched throughout his life."

According to his wife of 26 years, Elizabeth, Piper went on making visits to Piper Foundation offices... and even kept up his attendance at board meetings for the Piper Aviation Museum... until his last days.

Hazlett agreed, and noted his absence was conspicuous at Wednesday's meeting.

Elizabeth Piper said her husband fell Monday evening and had surgery Tuesday for a broken hip. He was in good spirits the afternoon before his death, working crossword puzzles and reading the sports page.

"Other than his dementia he didn't have a lot of other serious health issues," his stepson George said. "He was able to get around. It was just aging. His health was amazingly good."

A memorial service took place at the museum Wednesday. During the funeral at the Piper Mausoleum at Highland Cemetery, a trumpeter played a jazz rendition of Piper's favorite song, "A Closer Walk with Thee"... during which a row of bright yellow Piper Cubs flew a "Missing Man" formation, according to the Lock Haven Express.

If that doesn't bring a tear to your eye...

FMI: www.piper.com, www.pipermuseum.com