I really enjoyed interviewing and finding out more about our new Grandpa. He truly has had a full, busy, adventuresome life!
He is the 2nd of 5 children in his family, born in Rigby Idaho. His dad owned a movie theater and Gaylon not only started working there at 16, running the projectors, but got to see all the movies for free of course! Plus popcorn and all!!
Gaylon's father was an airplane pilot but didn't have an instructor's license. That didn't stop him from teaching Gaylon to fly planes at 16. (Gaylon did get an official license later!) Gaylon says he was shy in High School, but he was too busy for girls as he was riding scooters, building model airplanes, and eventually quite busy with his first car, a '31 Chevy Coupe. He graduated from High School in 1947, and he and his 5 guy friends drove in a '41 Plymouth from Idaho to NYC, they lived in that car for two weeks straight (including eating and sleeping). They only slept two nights in a hotel, when they were at Times Square.
1948 Gaylon went to Rick's College-he met his first wife Joyce in a Spanish class. He was so distracted by her, he had to quit the class because he couldn't focus on the work! She was an Idaho cheerleader and won him over!
In 1949, he was working as a telephone lineman and sent in his mission papers. He was thrilled to get called to the Denmark mission because his father was from Denmark. He was to report on his mission in August. He and Joyce asked for permission to be married before his mission, and permission was granted. They were sealed in July and 6 weeks later he left on his mission. They had only letters for contact for his whole 2 ½ years mission. What a way to make sure your girl waits for you! He returned home by boat, the Queen Elizabeth.
In 1952, due to the Korean War, Gaylon joined the army. He went to Officer Candidate school and received his commission as 2nd Lt. Artillery Officer. Next came flight school and then off to Okinawa. Joyce and family joined him there.
In 1957 Gaylon started his dream job of a commercial pilot with Capital Airplanes. He was a copilot of a DC-3 and they lived in Virginia. United Airlines took over the company and Gaylon spent the next 32 years with them, ultimately flying the 747.
Gaylon and Joyce had 5 children, 3 boys and 2 girls, and currently there are 9 grandchildren, and 3 great granddaughters. They lived all over, including Virgina, Chicago, San Clemente, Utah and Las Vegas. Gaylon and Joyce lost one son, aged 36, in 1995 in a plane crash.
Gaylon retired from United while in Las Vegas, but continued to fly on the side by flying tourists over the Grand Canyon.
Gaylon and family were active in the church, Gaylon served as Bishop while in San Clement California. He and Joyce served a proselyting mission in Atlanta in 1996. In 2000, due to Joyce's declining health, they moved to Utah to be near family. Joyce died in 2008 after many years of suffering, not so much of pain but being unable to walk, talk or recognize family.
Gaylon met Pat after Joyce's death, and says he is one lucky guy to find someone so wonderful!
Gaylon is a cheery, optimistic guy, who is a pleasure to be around. I think we are lucky to snag him into our large family. He has gone out of his way to learn all our names and interests and show us love.
Gaylon is also pretty modest. You have to ask and push a little to find out all the great things he has done and experienced. He started running around age 47 and has won awards and continues to be faster than men and boys years younger. He has ran in 32 marathons, 400 plus shorter races. His best marathon time is 2 hours 35 min. His best 5k time is 17:11, and that was at age 57. He still runs a 5k in 24 plus minutes. Talk to any runner and they will tell you those are killer times.
He still holds 2 world records. Since 1986 he has held the time record for the Boston Marathon in the Veterans Group. He also holds the All time Veterans Ranking (age group 55-59) of 28th in the world.
Way to go Gaylon. We are proud of you and look to you as an example and motivation!!
We love you and are glad to have you as Grandpa Gaylon in our family!!
