MEEKER | David Cole stood tall and proud as he was inducted into the Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC) Hall of Fame Saturday, Sept. 27, surrounded by friends, family and colleagues. David made history as one of CNCC’s six inaugural inductees, receiving recognition for his contributions to the CNCC flight program.
“Without David’s unwavering commitment, CNCC Aviation would not be the successful, historical program it is today,” said Keith Peterson, Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs at CNCC. “He has been the program’s director, cheerleader, and indeed the hero that kept the program afloat during difficult times. His contributions to both college and community over the past decades have been the model for others to follow.”
Cole’s involvement with the CNCC flight program spanned the course of more than 30 years. In addition to serving as aviation program director, Cole also served on the CNCC flight program advisory committee, and most recently as CNCC chief flight instructor, a position he retired from at the end of Sept.
“I was really blown away by all of the praise at the induction ceremony – it made me feel like a hero, and I just didn’t expect that,” said Cole. “I look back on those times when the flight program was shutting down and I remember how we rolled up our sleeves and got to work to bring the program back. I’ve always had a great passion for aviation and being able to mentor and pass along what I have learned over the years. To see where the flight program is today, it fills me with great pride.”
CNCC’s flight school was recently ranked the nation’s top two-year school by the National Intercollegiate Flight Association (NIFA).
Cole’s passion for flying was inspired by his parents, both of whom were pilots. He remembers his first airplane ride with his teddy bear at around age 5. He earned his private pilot license while he was still in high school in 1964, even before he had a driver’s license.
“Flying is all I’ve ever wanted to do, it has meant everything to me,” Cole said.
After graduating from high school, Cole attended the University of Colorado, then enlisted in the Navy. While serving, he attended air traffic control school, held various air traffic control positions, and completed his pilot training. Cole received a letter of commendation in 1966 for his involvement fighting a fire on the USS Oriskany, where he was stationed. After completing his service in the Navy, Cole returned to Colorado and earned his Bachelor of Science in Aviation Technology at Metro State University.
During his long and accomplished commercial aviation career, Cole held multiple positions as chief pilot for Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) 135 charter organizations and was chief flight instructor for several FAR 141-approved flight schools, including CNCC. He flew commercially for Frontier, People Express, Continental, and United Airlines on pacific routes to Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Thailand. He also was a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector and owner of Cole Aviation Consulting.
In 2016, Cole received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award from the FAA recognizing him as an exceptional professional pilot with more than 50 years of safe piloting experience.
“I look back on my career and thank God. All aspects of aviation in which I’ve been involved, including the consulting work I’ve done, have just been very rewarding,” Cole said.
Cole and his wife Martha are both active members of the Meeker community where they live, and with St. James Episcopal Church, where Cole serves on the church’s endowment fund board and as a lay eucharistic minister.
Cole is also active in the local VFW Post 5843 and American Legion Post 74 in Meeker, having served as quartermaster and commander.
“I’ve really enjoyed helping my fellow veterans, especially because there is a need,” said Cole. “Together, we’ve kept the VFW and American Legion charters here in Meeker alive, and both organizations are doing great. We even have a bunch of new members, younger people who are motivated and want to help. I couldn’t be more pleased.
“It’s important to get younger people involved and excited – like when I was given the opportunity to take my first flight with my teddy bear. Sometimes it just takes someone to care and bring you along to help set you on that path to grow and succeed.”
By MELISSA BAUMGART
