Buell J. Felts

Buell J. Felts. Buell Felts was born in Basin, Montana, on September 27, 1898. He attended public schools, there until 1906, when he, his sister Georgene and his parents Isham Buell Felts and Florence V. (Johnson), moved to Opportunity, Washington, where they purchased, 10 acres of farmland along Sprague Avenue. The family orchard won many prizes at the Interstate Fairs., Buell attended Opportunity School through his freshman year where he excelled and was prominent in student activities. In 1912, he chose Lewis and Clark High School. Once there, Buell was admitted into the Quill Literary Society. In 1914, he was one of a team of three awarded the Governor's Cup at the Washington State Teachers Convention in Tacoma. He was on the "Very Honorable List" of students 1914 and 1915 and graduated as class president in 1915. Buell entered the Washington State College horticulture program in 1915. His studies were interrupted due to America's involvement in World War I. , Buell joined the Enlisted Reserve Corps in March 19, 1918. He was sent to Berkeley California, for training in the U.S. Army School of Military Aeronautics. After training, he was stationed at March Field, Riverside California. The war ended and Buell returned home in April 1919 after being promoted to Second Lieutenant. He returned to Washington State College to complete his education and joined the staff of the school newspaper. Buell graduated as president of the class on June 14, 1921, and married Genevieve Collins, a fellow student from college in Lewiston, Idaho, on July 8, 1922. Returning to the Spokane Valley, Buell returned to farming until 1923 when be was hired by the Spokane Valley Herald newspaper. In 1924, Buell, with Wilbur King, a friend from school, purchased the newspaper. He later became sole owner. His success as a newspaperman was well-known. Buell was active in the community, serving as secretary of the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, member of the Opportunity Odd Fellows Lodge and Opportunity Presbyterian Church. In April 1923, he was named deputy commissioner to the Spokane Valley Boy Scouts. , In 1925, Buell gave an opening speech at the new West Valley High School, He was involved with organizing and promoting the All-Valley Picnics held at Liberty Lake in the mid-1920s. In 1926, Buell was one of three aviators to perform aerial stunts to a crowd of 3,500 people. After the 116th aviation squad was organized at Parkwater Field, Buell reenlisted at his previous second lieutenant status. In March 1927, he was promoted to First Lieutenant by Major Jack Fancher, When Parkwater Field was authorized May 1, 1927, by the National Aeronautic Association, Buell was there to sign his name to the original charter. With the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commence, he helped with the naming of all the streets and the placing of street signs. Felts Road that bordered the family farm still exists today. (2023) , Buell Felts died May 29, 1927, just eight weeks after his first child was born. He piloted a J.N. Curtis "Jenny" as part of the military squadron af Parkwater. Everett Baker, a fellow newspaperman from Chicago was with him when it was involved in a crash only twelve minutes after takeoff killing both men. He was twenty-eight years old. , During the full military funeral on May 31, businesses and schools in the Valley were closed and the streets shut down. Traffic officers from the sheriff's department were stationed to manage the hundreds of automobiles assembled. The church was filled to capacity and the crowd spread from the church grounds and into the street. Following the funeral at the church the crowd made its way to Pines Cemetery where a brief service was held. During the service, this statement was made by Major Fancher, "Lieutenant Fells was the cream of our organization, and undoubtedly the most beloved man in the unit from the time he cited he fit in perfectly. His attitude was always kindly, his personality pleasing, and his general appearance of an inspirational nature. He knew the duties of an officer and performed them as an officer should.", Felts Field . Aviation activities began in 1913 as Spokane's historic airfield. It served as the region's principal commercial and military airport through the 1940s and was the location of the region's first National Guard Air Unit. It was designated as a municipal airfield by the city in February 1919. In 1920, the field was designated a municipal flying field. Parkwater Aviation Field was the headquarters of the 116th Observation Squadron of the Washington Air National Guard. In 1926, the United States Department of Commerce officially recognized Parkwater as an airport, one of the first in the West. It was the Inland Northwest's first airport and one of the oldest federally-designated airports in the nation. On July 14, 1927, Governor Hartley officially changed the name to Felts Field in honor of Buell Felts. That month there were two major events, the landing of Charles Lindbergh during a nationwide tour in his Spirit of St. Louis and Spokane's Air Derby and National Air Races. In 1991, it was designated Felts Field Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.