Ralph Walter Savory

As a past server at Spring Lake Village, I may have been one of the youngest inspired by Ralph's charm. Even if he was not seated in my section, I would make it a point to say hello, and he would hold up his hand for a high-five. He was by far my favorite resident to serve, and I wish I had had the chance to sit down and talk on a friendship level.

Although it's been a while since your passing, I hope you rest in peace, Captain Ralph Savory. You were the coolest high-fiving 100...

My name is Dan Victor. For a number of years I knew that Ralph Savory had been my father's best man at my parent's wedding in Anchorage in June of 1938, yet I had never met Ralph. I also knew that in 1936 Ralph showed my father, Dan Victor the Star Airlines flying routes on the Kuskokwim and McGrath areas of Alaska.

It wasn't until 2005 that I searched for Ralph on Google in hopes of finding a biography of him. To my surprise I found out that he was still alive. I called him and...

Yet another young farm boy from down the road from Mr. Savory heard the aviation stories and got the wiff of hydaulic fluid and fell in love with flying as he had.I was a classmate of Diane's and on many occasions we would get together at their Enumclaw "ranchette"and party and "hanger fly". Mr Savory was always very kind to me and I appreciated that.I owe him a debt of gratitude for his inspiration and for being a major force leading to my career in aviation .You are cleared to Heaven...

It was my pleasure to interview Ralph and to work with his daughter Diane on preserving some of his stories on the University of Alaska Jukebox program. Bill Schneider

I'm sure glad I made the effort to track Ralph down about a month ago and call him up. He knew my father, Virgil Hanson, when they worked for Star Airlines in the '30's. He sounded happy to discuss the "old days". A real legacy that set high standards for others to follow. I'm sure his new wings were well earned.

In hearing of Ralph's passing, I could not help but remember my time as a farm boy--not off the farm yet. Ralph took me on a DC 6 flight where as Chief Pilot of PanAm Pacific Alaska Division, he was giving check rides to two captains. These were the days "before simulators--or steel cockpit doors". This sparked my interest in flying and sent me on a long career in aviation, retiring as captain for Alaska Airlines. For this, I will always be grateful to Ralph--plus both Ginny and I...

In hearing of Ralph's passing, I could not help but remember my time as a farm boy, not off the farm yet! Ralph took me on a DC 6 flight where as Chief Pilot of PanAm Pacific Alaska Division, he was giving check rides to two captains. These were the days "before simulators--or steel cockpit doors". This sparked my interest in flying and sent me on a long career in aviation, retiring as captain for Alaska Airlines. For this, I will always be grateful to Ralph--plus both Ginny and I...

Thanks for sharing Mark. You were probably the last young man Ralph inspired. At least one of Diane's High School classmates was inspired to follow in Ralph's footsteps as an airline pilot. He kept in touch with many of the pilots he flew with during his career right up to the end of his life. And he always had a ready story to go with each name when it came up in conversation. I'm sure you heard a few of those stories, too.
Our best to you and Jeanette

In 2002, I met Ralph for the first time. I was taking flying lessons, and his stories of bush planes so inspired me. As I neared obtaining my certification, I said to Ralph..."The FIRST thing I'm going to do when I get my license is take YOU and I flying!!". Ralph, in his 90's, having amassed tens of thousands of hours and surviving unknown numbers of close calls, said to me with a twinkle in his eye.... "I just might have to think about that!".
Our thoughts are with you, Diane and...