Originally published in 2010 by Mary Lynn Oliver, the youngest daughter of Walter and Olive Ann Beech, the book “The Barnstormer and The Lady” chronicling the personal lives of the aviation pioneers has been out of print for a decade. Mary Lynn’s daughter, Jennifer Pitt, has updated the first edition and reprinted a 15th anniversary edition that is now available for purchase.
“Everywhere I went, people would ask me where they could find a copy of the book,” Jennifer, who lives in Wichita, Kansas, said in an interview with King Air magazine. “And there have been so many milestone events and different celebrations honoring my grandparents lately, it seemed like the right time to update the book.”
In the book’s foreword, Mary Lynn explains her motivation behind the original book on her parents, who founded Beech Aircraft Co. in 1932 in Wichita, and why so little had been written about their personal lives:
“It has long been in my mind and heart to have a biography written about these two remarkable people. Much has been written about the airplanes Beech Aircraft made, but little has been written about the man and the woman behind those airplanes. Many people know that my father never went anywhere without a pipe clenched in his teeth and that my mother’s favorite color was a particular shade of blue. But very little is known about the warmth of their personalities and strength of their characters. … it is a pity I did not start this project long ago when their contemporaries and close friends were still around. But that would have been when my mother was still alive, and I respected how fiercely she guarded her personal life and feelings. Even now, I feel I am treading softly on her wishes, but I think their story is worth telling and recording for history and my family before all is lost.”
For the original book, Mary Lynn and former Wall Street Journal journalist Dennis Farney conducted interviews and solicited recollections about the Beeches from family, friends, former employees, political figures, and history and aviation authorities. Other sources included the Beech archives at Wichita State University and Olive Ann’s private desk diaries. Seventeen chapters range from “The Boy Who Wanted to Fly” and “The Girl Who Kept the Books” to “Two Lives, Lived in Full.”
Jennifer spent several months creating the book’s new pages, which sandwich Dennis’ original content and are identified with a blue border. Among these sections are recent tributes to her grandparents, including induction at the Paul E. Garber Shrine at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina; a look at the company’s technological contributions, from a hybrid electric car to supersonic drones and human spaceflight systems; and never-before-printed photographs from the family’s archives.
The update also includes a QR code to watch a documentary segment on Olive Ann that includes a rare televised interview she granted to Wichita journalist Larry Hatteberg, who persistently requested the interview for three decades.
Jennifer never met Walter, who died in 1950, and she was 23 years old when her grandmother died in 1993. She said among her favorite memories of her grandmother are grade school field trips where her entire class would visit Olive Ann’s office; magical Christmas Day gatherings at Olive Ann’s house, where the woman known for her impeccable style expected visitors to dress formally; and seeing the Christmas card Olive Ann received each year from the President of the United States.
“Anytime a celebrity came to town to pick up their airplane she would call me to come meet them,” Jennifer added. “I was out of town when Christopher Reeve visited but she had him sign a poster for me.”
Though she was too young while Olive Ann was living to understand the significance of her grandmother’s contributions to aviation, business and the community, Jennifer now is focused on preserving her grandparents’ legacy and bringing awareness to younger generations.
“I don’t want the history to get lost or their names to be forgotten,” she said, adding that she has another project in the works that she wants to keep under wraps for now. “I want to do whatever I can to keep their legacy alive.”
“The Barnstormer and The Lady” is a 272-page hardcover book that sells for $44.95 plus tax and a shipping charge of $10. It can be ordered at thebarnstormerandthelady.com, and Jennifer will include a personal dedication upon request.