Mudhole Smith

1908	Born in Kansas
1923	Sells his favorite sheep for $10 and pays $7.50 for his first airplane ride with WWI pilot, Preacher Smith
1937	Came to Alaska after M.D. "Kirk" Kirkpatrick, president of Cordova Air Service offered him a job as a pilot
1938	Glacier Pilot Bob Reeve gave Merle Smith the nickname "Mudhole" after Smitty hit a hole on takeoff and his Stearman C3B biplane nosed over into the muddy runway. The nickname would stay with him for life.
1939	Became president of Cordova Air Service after Kirkpatrick was killed in an accident
1939	1929 Travelair 6000B NC8159 arrives in Alaska
1942	Works for Morrison-Knudson and Harold Gillam flying mail and cargo, mostly in support of the war effort.
1944	Returns to Cordova to rebuild the Cordova Air Service
1950	Is grounded because of health problems but continues to build Cordova Air Service into one of Alaska'a most successful airlines.
1952	Cordova Air Service merges with Christensen Flying Service and becomes Cordova Airlines
1968	Cordova Air Service merges with Alaska Airlines, Mudhole serves as director and vice-president of Alaska Airlines until mid 1973
1981	Merle K. "Mudhole" Smith dies on June 16