Charles Short
Encyclopedia
Charles W. "Charlie" Short was the first airport manager at the Tulsa Municipal Airport (now Tulsa International Airport
). In the right place at the right time, Short was working for oil baron William G. Skelly when Skelly and others signed a "stud horse note" that provided the financing needed to acquire land and construct the airport's first terminal building. In 1929, Short was named the first airport manager, a job that he would hold until his death in 1955.
Interest in Short's career has been recently revived with the display of his impressive collection of photographs of aviation personalities. As airport manager, Short made it his business to personally greet any arriving celebrity. Often he would have them pose with him for a photo, which he would have immediately printed so that the celebrity could sign it before leaving Tulsa. After his death, Short's collection was mounted on large display boards and was displayed in the airport terminal. In recent years, the faded boards and damaged photographs were entrusted to the Tulsa Air and Space Museum
for preservation. Short's collection includes rare photographs of Wiley Post
, Amelia Earhart
, Will Rogers
, Charles Lindbergh
, Art Goebel and others.
Tulsa International Airport
Tulsa International Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located five miles northeast of downtown Tulsa, a city in Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States. It was originally named Tulsa Municipal Airport, when the city acquired it in 1929...
). In the right place at the right time, Short was working for oil baron William G. Skelly when Skelly and others signed a "stud horse note" that provided the financing needed to acquire land and construct the airport's first terminal building. In 1929, Short was named the first airport manager, a job that he would hold until his death in 1955.
Interest in Short's career has been recently revived with the display of his impressive collection of photographs of aviation personalities. As airport manager, Short made it his business to personally greet any arriving celebrity. Often he would have them pose with him for a photo, which he would have immediately printed so that the celebrity could sign it before leaving Tulsa. After his death, Short's collection was mounted on large display boards and was displayed in the airport terminal. In recent years, the faded boards and damaged photographs were entrusted to the Tulsa Air and Space Museum
Tulsa Air and Space Museum
The Tulsa Air and Space Museum is an aerospace museum located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is located in the northwest corner of the Tulsa International Airport property. Visitors to the museum can explore of exhibits highlighting Tulsa's aviation history. Historic exhibits, hands-on activities,...
for preservation. Short's collection includes rare photographs of Wiley Post
Wiley Post
Wiley Hardeman Post was a famed American aviator, the first pilot to fly solo around the world. Also known for his work in high altitude flying, Post helped develop one of the first pressure suits. His Lockheed Vega aircraft, the Winnie Mae, was on display at the National Air and Space Museum's...
, Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
, Will Rogers
Will Rogers
William "Will" Penn Adair Rogers was an American cowboy, comedian, humorist, social commentator, vaudeville performer, film actor, and one of the world's best-known celebrities in the 1920s and 1930s....
, Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
, Art Goebel and others.