DICK COCHRAN 1954 - 1982? STATION AGENT, PILOT DEN Dick phoned and we had a nice chat. He was subscribing to the FL NEWS and wanted back issues & the DEN 1967 accident reports. He is the brother of Rick Cochran who piloted that tragic flight. According to Dick, he started with FL in 1954 as a station agent at age 18. He became a FL pilot 3 years later, 1957, at age 21. -Jake Lamkins (8/7/04) I was very good friends with Rick Cochran who was killed on #276 on take off in Denver and his twin brother Dick who was also a pilot for Frontier. -Herb Schmidt (8/9/05) As a matter of information, regretfully, I inform you that our Dick Cochran has been diagnosed with cancer. The medics believe that this started in the Prostate area. As soon as it has been determined as to where and to what extent, Dick will undergo chemo and/or radiation. Needless to mention, Dick's wife JoAnne has been overwhelmed with phone calls, drop-ins, etc. We will try to keep you posted as to progress, etc and in the interest of respect for JoAnne, please keep your phone inquiries short - but better still - why not drop Dick a card. We will keep you informed. -Ace Avakian (8/7/06) CARD TO DICK FROM FLOLKS AT FYV-FSM PIGNIC: Mailed August 19, 2006 Hi Dick, All the FLolks here at the FYV-FSM FL PIGnic want you wish you a speedy and complete recovery. You hang in there and keep fighting it. We'll be wishing you the best. Hi Jake, One of our favorite FAL pilots passed away today, Captain Dick Cockran, He was 72 years old. He was suffering from cancer. He started flying in 1959 and retired in about 1982. No word on services yet. -Bonnie Dahl (2/12/07) Posted at the FL Club: Pilot Dick Cochran has died at age 72. Email received from Bob Lambourne and Bonnie Dahl: He had been fighting cancer for some time and died today. He is the brother of Rick Cochran who died in the FL DC3 crash at DEN Dec. 12, 1967. Dick started with FL in 1954 as a station agent at age 18. He became a FL pilot 3 years later, 1957, at age 21. No info on services yet. -Jake Lamkins (2/12/07) Thanks for the information on Dick Cochran. Both of the brothers worked for my dad while they were in flight school, prior to joining Frontier. (Kern's mens wear) and were personnel friends. Please tell me when the services are. Again Thanks. -Pat Kern (2/13/07) Just read the email on the death of Dick Cochran. He was such a joy to know and had the greatest smile. Always a pleasure to talk to and it was a joy everytime he came through the Phoenix Station. He will be missed and sorry to hear of his passing. Thank you for the info. -Ginger Treptow (2/13/07) OBITUARY Richard Lehr Cochran Lived 72 years and is survived by wife of 52 years Joanne (Rush) Cochran; brothers Roger, Ray, Ralph and Randy; sister Rita Poppenhagen; numerous nephews and nieces; and doggies Roper and Donnie. Retired from Frontier Airlines as a Captain of 31 years. Graduated Aurora High School in 1952. Memorial service Friday, 2:00 p.m., Fairmount Mortuary Chapel. Donations, if desired, to Denver Dumb Friends League or charity of your choice. -Denver Newspaper Agency on 2/14/2007. Sorry to hear about Dick Cochran, he was a great guy. When ever you saw him he always had a smile and real character. He will be missed. -Herb Schmidt (2/19/07) R L COCHRAN Station agent seniority date of 9/20/54 on the 11/1/55 FL/RMAAA seniority list. Pilot seniority date of 3/18/58 on the 9/1/72 and 8/1/81 FL/ALPA seniority lists. He is not on the 9/1/85 FL/ALPA seniority list. -Jake Lamkins (3/3/07) Email to Ace and Billy I'm putting Dick Cochran's memorial webpage together. I was checking his seniority date (3/18/58) and see that he's on the 9/1/81 list but he's not on the 9/1/85 list. Did he leave before the bankruptcy? Was it a medical retirement or did he go with another carrier? The obituary says he retired after 31 years which would have been 1985 if you counted his station agent time back to 1954. -Jake Lamkins (3/3/07) Dick Cochran was not only a consummate professional as a Airline Pilot, He was also one of but a very few Station Agents in our company to satisfy the intense and demanding rigors of commercial Aviation Training to be hired by our company as a 2nd Officer and by his dedication & desire to excel. Dick was always "Gracious, genuine & down to earth" with everybody he met and dealt with, both within and outside of the Company. Dick never forgot his "FL" Station Agent roots. For those of us who ever worked as Station Agent in a class "C" or "D" Station, we were acutely aware that "Flight Time" more often meant that we had the entire ground operation to do by ourselves ? To see Dick Cochran's name on the daily Flight Crew Scheduling as Captain of a flight coming through my station brought me the instant realization that this marvelous "Kindred Spirit" will do everything possible to insure my Station of not taking a flight delay. Having gotten to know Dick personally, I relished the very brief visit his arrival afforded as a chance to greet a grand friend ! Dick's beloved wife Joanne is indeed a classy, charming woman. Together they were a marvelous couple who in their marriage, and their attitude towards life, so exemplified the wonderful qualities and spirit of our Airline ! Godspeed Grand Friend "Dick Cochran" !! -Bob Pearson (9/5/07) The passing of Dick Cochran brought to mind a happening at LAR. The morning of Jan 3, 1973 saw the official temp at 06:00 at a -61. This was taken by Orvis Clark of the Flight Service Station, and verified by myself. In case you’re interested, 61 below is rather snappy. The winter of ‘72-’73 saw many low temps at LAR colder than -40. Dick was flying Fit 622, a DEN-LAR-CYS-DEN trip. It was due at 06:55 and out at 07:05 as I remember it. When he called in range, he asked it the temperature was for real. When I replied that it was, he said we would have to make the stop as quick as possible, as there was a real danger of freezing the hydraulics. We had around 20 passengers, and for once, all were checked in early. They made a one engine stop. We had the customers all prepped so they knew what to do, and made the stop in 5 minutes. When he called the times, he ended by thanking us for a quick turn, when the thanks should have gone to him for coming in the first place, but that was the kind of gentlemen he was. -Doug Engelhardt (9/11/08)