Joe has developed and maintained a number of important friendships over the years. One of them, Bill Allen, had some especially kind words to share about Joe with his circle of friends that he was thoughtful enough to send along to me and grant permission for me to publish here…
To my friends and friends of all things historical and aviation!
I had to break an appointment last Thursday with a very remarkable man who was part of my “growing up years”. Joe Kimm was a quiet mentor, when to our church growing up, and was a favored co-worker of my dad’s, who joined Northwest Airlines in 1937. Joe lived down the street and personified the “Captain Kimm” image with his professional demeanor, quiet confidence, service attitude, matter of fact nature, and a 1958 Lincoln Continental. Not that he lived large, but there was and is a quiet “presence” to his personality that is both magnetic and humble.
Joe called to break our appointment due to a sudden interview by KOMO radio and TV on that day. We’ll hopefully meet in another day or two when the excitement and family commitments die down a bit. I can’t imagine what it’s like to reach 100 but I can sure respect it and respect the fact that Joe to this day lives life to the fullest.
In the attached links, Joe tells what it was like back in the “glory days” of the airline era. Actually it was damn tough and risky work. My father did not have the adventure of an engine dropping off a Ford Tri-Motor (that was about five years before his time), but he had his fair share of flying by the stars, feeling it in your ass (on how to handle an adverse condition), handling ice and hail, and thinking through every alternative if fuel or a failed engine became an issue 3000 miles out in the ocean, and yes, the corporate and labor problems then as now.
To understand Joe Kimm is to put an addendum on his story on retiring at age 60. Both Joe and my father were involved from time to time in the pilot’s association affairs and Joe was the guy who was just enough older where Northwest did not grant him the training to finally fly the flagship of the airline, the new 747. Joe lobbied and succeeded in getting NWA to allow my father to qualify and for the last two years of his career, Dad drove the 747 while Joe Kimm soldiered on flying the now second-tier 707-320 until the required 60th birthday occurred. Never a big deal made of it, but that’s just the type of guy he is.
Joe, there’s a reason you’ve lived the long and rich life. Nobody deserves more to be celebrated in reaching the true golden year. Congratulatons!!
Bill Allen
How can we contact Joe and or his family? My 91 year old father flew with him at Northwest. My dad lives in Bellevue WA. Any way to make contact??