Ray Petersen

1912	Born August 10 in York, Nebraska
1928	Got his first airplane ride as part of a barter agreement between a pilot and farmer
1930	Earned his commercial license
1934	Landed in Seward, Alaska as a stowaway with $300 in his pocket and in four days was flying for a living for Les Plumb's Anchorage Airways. Also flew for Star Airways and Marsh Airways.
1935	Formed Bethel Airways with partner John Littley
1936	Bethel Airways went out of business after both of its airplanes crash
1937	Founded Ray Petersen's flying service using a Ryan B1 Brougham
1939	Married Marie Antoinette (Toni) Schodde
1947	Northern Consolidated Airlines is formally approved by the CAB after Petersen merges his air service with several other pioneering airlines
1952	Petersen implements the first pension plan for the airlines industry
1968	Wien Alaska Airlines merges with Northern Consolidated creating Wien Consolidated
1969	Peterson becomes Chief Executive Officer of Wien Consolidated
1979	Petersen leaves the airline business