Born March 24, 1908 in Stockton, California, TWA Captain (Ret.) José Grant celebrates his 100th Birthday today!  His birth preceded the rollout of Ford's first Model T by six months.  Four years later in 1912, José moved to Florida with his family in an oxen-drawn cart, preceding the beginning of WW I by two years.

 

José's first ride in an airplane was in 1925, two years before Charles Lindbergh made the first non-stop flight over the Atlantic in The Spirit of St. Louis.  José left home in 1928, bound for Texas with all of $13 in his pocket.  Three years later, José earned his pilot's license, which was signed by Clarence Young, then head of the U.S. Department of Commerce.  1931 was a great year!  In addition to earning his pilot's license, José and his brother Roy bought their first airplane, a Curtiss Robin, plus José "landed" his first airline job – flying part time for Allegheny Airlines.  The Curtiss Model 50 Robin, introduced in 1928, was a high wing monoplane with an 8-cylinder V8 OX-5 90 horsepower engine. The OX-5 was also flown by Douglas "Wrongway" Corrigan
 

José started his own flying company, Logan Flying Service, in 1932, five years befor the Hindenberg disaster, the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, and seven years before the start of WW II.  José began working for Pennsylvania Central Airlines in 1939, then flew C-54s for the Air Transport Command in and around Cairo, Egypt during the war. 

Following the end of the War, José was sent to Saudi Arabia by President Franlin Roosevelt to accompany a DC-3 gifted to Saudi King Abdul Aziz ibn Saud by the American president.  José served as the King's private pilot until 1947, and while in the Kingdom, helped start up and manage Saudi Arabian Airlines.  Just so happened that there was a Russian silversmith named Bakhar who worked in the Shepherds Hotel in Cairo.  Bakhar, it is said, pilfered siver from here and there, melted it, and made puzzle rings he then sold to "interested parties."  José bought one.

Despite generous offers from the King to stay, José chose to return to the U.S. in 1947, Jwas hired by TWA and puzzled over the construction of the puzzle rings – until he became a master at making them himself.  He met his wife Marga in 1958 – right about the same time he moved from propeller aircraft to commercial jets – and married her two years later.  Their son Ed was born in 1962, followed two years later by daughter Theresa (known as Tacey).

 

Captain Grant retired from the TWA cockpit in 1968, and for the past 40 years, has continued the tradition of designing and creating those "puzzle" rings he first picked up from Bakhar in Cairo back in '47.

 

When the DCS group disbanded in 1976, Klaus Schmidt gathered as many DCS validators he could get his hands on and took them to Captain Grant who melted them down and made key chain medallions for the DCS Alumni.  Back then, José's "store" was in the basement of his home in Stamford, Connecticut. 

 

Still going strong, Captain Grant is a testament to good taste and a strong work ethic.  He puts in 40 hours per week at his store and is busy designing jewelry of the finest quality.  His family works along side of José, making a visit to Jewelry by José Grant Inc. a truly warm and satisfying experience.  And, José still gives a TWA discount to TWA Emeriti!
(Carl F. Barley TWA Seniors Skyliner Editor)