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...
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.15.24)
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