Winging It To Oshkosh

Dean, President, CEO of Dean Lumber Company, Gilmer, Texas, set a world speed record on July 26, 1990 with a flight from Gilmer to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. No newcomer to the air, he's a longtime pilot and former Air Force flight instructor.

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"It wasn't a hard record to set," he admits, "since no record ever existed. In fact, it's possible that no one has ever flown from Gilmer to Oshkosh before."

That detail didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the 30 Gilmerites, including the reigning International Possum Queen, Daisy Potter, who saw Steve off at the airport. Nor did it bother the local newspaper which covered the sendoff. And it was certainly appropriate that the group donned embroidered "world Record Flight 1990" ballcaps.
On to Oshkosh. Dean flew to Oshkosh in his Beech Bonanza to attend the 1990 International Experimental Aircraft Association Fly-in Convention, an annual event that attracts thousands of pilots throughout the nation. But Dean's flight wasn't solo. He was accompanied by Huck DeVenzio, daring navigator from Hickson Corporation which supplies Dean Lumber Company with Wolmanized and Dricon brand name licensing.

Steve Dean's love affair with the air began when he first soloed while still in high school, and he spent 20 years - active and reserve - in the Air Force. He figures he's logged about 11,000 hours as pilot, 2,500 of those in jets.

By the way, Dean's record time from Gilmer to Oshkosh was just under seven hours. With tongue in cheek, he says he could have made it quicker, but he stopped in Illinois to refuel. And of course, he ate lunch, then made a few phone calls. He took a short nap, too. 
Nevertheless, the record still stands.