Walter Varney

Walter Varney

American aviator (1888–1967)

Walter Thomas Varney (December 26, 1888 – January 25, 1967) was an American aviation pioneer who founded forerunners of two major U.S. airlines, United Airlines and Continental Airlines, which combined under United Continental Holdings in 2010, long after his death in 1967.2

From Wikipedia’s article on Walter Varney (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Dec 26, 1888, died Jan 25, 1967.1

About

Varney was also one of the most prominent airmail contractors of the early 20th century.

Varney served as a pilot in the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps during World War I. After the war Varney established an aviation school and air taxi service in northern California.

From Wikipedia’s article on Walter Varney, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2

Companies

Career

Occupation: aircraft pilot.4

After finishing flight school in 1918, he purchased Lynch Field in Redwood City with the goal of starting a flying school and an air taxi service from San Francisco.

Continental Airlines was founded in 1934 by Varney and his partner Louis Mueller as Varney Speed Lines. On July 15, 1934, Varney Speed Lines flew its first trip on a 530-mile route from Pueblo, Colorado to El Paso, Texas with stops in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and Santa Fe and Albuquerque New Mexico. Varney ceded control to Mueller in 1934, and in 1936 a controlling interest in the company was sold to Robert Six who renamed it Continental Airlines in 1937, moving its headquarters to Denver.

In 1932, Varney contributed half of the $40,000 needed to purchase the Lockheed division of Detroit Aircraft Corporation out of bankruptcy. The company was reorganized in Burbank, California as the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. Varney retired from that company in 1951.

From Wikipedia’s article on Walter Varney (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Personal life

  • BornDec 26, 1888, San Francisco5
  • DiedJan 25, 1967, Santa Barbara6
  • CitizenshipUnited States7

Sources

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