Mark's Remarks - HL 130 (1)

Special Section: In Honor of David C. Garrett

Picture above taken at B777 7108’s dedication. (Note 1)

Former CEO and President of Delta Air Lines, Inc has taken his final flight west.  David was 89 and passed on 6-2-2012. 

It is with a deep sense of sadness to notify the pilot group of the death of a fine gentleman, and an icon of the 1940's-1980's "Delta Family". Dave Garrett passed away peacefully in his home on Saturday morning June 02. David C. Garrett Jr., served as past President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Delta Airlines, from 1970-1987. Dave began his career with Delta in 1946 after returning from service with the Army Air Corps in WW II. Dave will be remembered for his devotion not only to Delta Air Lines, but to each of the members of what he fondly referred to as his Delta Family. Dave's beloved wife, Eleana was at his side throughout Dave's "final flight west". No funeral plans have been announced at this time.  

The family is meeting on Monday the 4^th to make plans and will publish a full obituary sometime thereafter.

Sent in by Roland Gaasch

Please bookmark our dedicated Flight West page for more details which will be published when available: http://pcnflightwest.blogspot.com/

Mark’s personal remarks:  It is with sadness that this our 130th issue of the High Life is reporting the passing of the CEO that impacted our careers at Delta for good.  David C. Garrett, Jr has passed at age 89.  In my mind, I never thought of David as charismatic figurehead or speaker, nor did I think he sought the limelight.  For me, he modeled that quiet leadership admirably with a hard work ethic that directed Delta through the initial travails of deregulation and more.   During his time (1970-1987) he respected his “family” and employees. 

One of my strongest memories of Mr. Garrett was when he traveled to O’Hare in the early 80’s to make a press announcement about the first terminal expansion for any airline since the 1950’s.  At that time Delta was a North-South airline and the leading airline on the prized ORD-Florida market. 

That expansion did take place and it was a great facility for a short period of time.  You see, Delta needed a “feed” partner like Air Wisconsin or another strong regional to keep their market share in this prized ORD-Florida market.  That did not happen and with later company leadership failing to make a partnership, they took a different tack.  They made a very deliberate move to re-invent Delta from a North-South airline to an East-West one.  For the base at ORD, the die was cast, with no feed relationship ORD was now on the way out. Mind you, when I got hired in 1978 ORD was Delta’s number 1 boarding city.  Interesting how the airline has morphed over the years.  Sometimes by volition and other times by omission.  Sometimes a good business decision and other times like Dallas a very very bad one.  By an large I believe we would all conclude that Mr. Garrett was steady and conservative in his leadership approach.  In his tenure he guarded the precious gift of a well oiled machine and efficient airline well.

Part of what made the “good ole days” at Delta so good were the good ole people.  Mr. Garrett was a good ole person.  He cared for and watched over the successful airline that Woolman and Beebe crafted, and left it in a good place.  If there is one negative that I remember about Mr. Garrett it was not stopping the selection of his successor. 

I did not personally know David, but friends of mine who did, always spoke highly.  I respected him for what he did and how he supported the airline, the employees and the pilots.   Just the very fact that he subscribed to the PCN and read the High Life’s is indicative of his concern for our pilot group.  Mr. Garrett cared for this airline and he had a heart for the employee family members.  Those close to him tell me he bled Delta through and through and allowed the employee family to take pride in its successes.  And Delta, under his watch, was successful! 

To Mrs. Garrett and the family we are all very sorry for your loss.  David’s passing is a loss for all of us.  May David’s final flight west be a smooth one and may you, David Clyde Garrett, Jr., rest in peace.  God Bless!       Mark

In order to remind ourselves a little about “the measure of the man,” please read David’s remarks included in the links below:

Read what David’s views on de-regulation are and more:

At 86 still leaving mark

http://www.ajc.com/ajccars/content/business/delta/stories/2009/06/14/delta_david_garrett.html

When Leo Mullen started upon his path, see the letters written by former executives (including David) seeking reconsideration.

Letters to Mullen

http://retireddeltapilotnetwork.homestead.com/DeltaExecsLetter.html

Delta's Chairmen, CEOs & Presidents

These are the past and present chairmen, chief executive officers and presidents of Delta. Dates of service begin in 1928, when Delta Air Service was chartered on December 3, 1928.

Year	Chairman	CEO	President
1928-34			D.Y. Smith
1934-45			C.E. Faulk
1945-51	C.E. Faulk		C.E. Woolman (& General Manager)
1951-53	(vacant)		C.E. Woolman (& GM)
1953-55	Carleton Putnam		C.E. Woolman (& GM)
1955-65	R.W. Freeman		C.E. Woolman (& GM)
1965-66	C.E. Woolman	C.E. Woolman	C.H. Dolson
1966-70	(vacant)	(vacant)	C.H. Dolson
1970-71	C.H. Dolson	C.H. Dolson	W.T. Beebe
1971	C.H. Dolson	(vacant)	W.T. Beebe
1971-78	W.T. Beebe	W.T. Beebe	David C. Garrett, Jr.
1978-83	W.T. Beebe	David C. Garrett, Jr.	David C. Garrett, Jr.
1983-87	David C. Garrett, Jr.	David C. Garrett, Jr.	Ronald W. Allen (& COO)
1987-90	Ronald W. Allen	Ronald W. Allen	Hollis L. Harris (& COO)
1990-91	Ronald W. Allen	Ronald W. Allen	Ronald W. Allen
1991-93	Ronald W. Allen	Ronald W. Allen	W. Whitley Hawkins (& COO)
1993-97	Ronald W. Allen	Ronald W. Allen	Ronald W. Allen
1997-99	Gerald Grinstein	Leo F. Mullin	Leo F. Mullin
1999-01	Leo F. Mullin	Leo F. Mullin	Leo F. Mullin
2001-04	Leo F. Mullin	Leo F. Mullin	Frederick W. Reid (& COO)
2004	John F. Smith, Jr.	Gerald Grinstein	Frederick W. Reid (& COO)
2004-07	John F. Smith, Jr.	Gerald Grinstein	(vacant)
2007-present	Daniel A. Carp	Richard H. Anderson	Edward Bastian

Note 1: B777 Ship 7108 "David C. Garrett"

Kicking off a week of celebrations commemorating 80 years of Delta passenger service, Delta dedicated a long-range 777 to former CEO David C. Garrett on June 10, 2009. Garrett served as Delta CEO from 1978 to 1987.

"Mr. Garrett started working for [Delta founder C.E.] Woolman in 1946. He continued to progress through every step in managing this airline until the time he retired as chairman of the board in the 1990s. He did a phenomenal job! He is a role model for all of us in our daily lives, both as a business man and as a good human being who really knew how to run a business. So, it's fitting and appropriate that an airline with big jets dedicates its newest, biggest jet to Mr. Garrett."
Delta CEO Richard Anderson on June 10, 2009

Ship 7108 David C. Garrett went into service between Atlanta and Mumbai on June 11, 2009. The following month, it flew Delta's inaugural flight to Sydney, Australia, on July 1

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