Norwood Ervin Band, Jr.
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The oldest of three boys, Norwood Ervin Band, Jr., was born to Norwood Ervin Band and Katharine Lillian Schwamb Band on April 13, 1938 in Newark, NJ (or as he liked to call it Sewark). The family lived in Philadelphia before settling in West Atlantic City in 1946. Norwood graduated from the Peddie School in Hightstown, NJ and then received his bachelor’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, OH in 1960.
While at Ohio Wesleyan, Norwood was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi. He was in the Platoon Leader Corps, so upon graduating, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. After completing The Basic School in Quantico, VA, he reported to Pensacola, FL, for primary flight instruction. He was designated a Naval Aviator in 1962. While stationed at the Pensacola Naval Air Station, he met Lavonne Ward in a Sunday School class at Warrington Methodist Church. They married there on August 25, 1962.
Duty to country meant that Norwood was serving aboard an aircraft carrier when his first child, Tina, was born in April, 1963. He flew helicopters and served in Viet Nam in 1964 and 1965. He instructed on the T-28 in Pensacola 1965-1966. Having fulfilled his obligation to the Corps, the family moved to Dallas in 1966, for Norwood to begin his commercial airline career with Braniff International.
While at Braniff, Norwood flew as flight engineer, copilot, and captain on the Boeing 727 and 747, DC-9, L-188, and Bac-111. The highlight of his career was flying the Concord. Norwood was the only person in the world to be certified as both a Concord flight engineer and copilot. The family moved to Richardson in 1968, and his only son, Richard, was born in April 1971.
In 1982 Braniff ceased operation. Norwood was then a flight instructor at Chase Filed NAS in Beeville, TX, from 1983 to 1984. In 1984, Norwood was back in the cockpit with Piedmont Airlines. In 1989, Piedmont merged with US Air. Norwood retired on his birthday in 1998. It was the U.S. government’s idea for him to retire from commercial flight at 60, not his! In addition to many of the same planes he flew at Braniff, he also flew the Boeing 737, DC-9, and FK-28 while at Piedmont/US Air.
In 1986, Lavonne passed away from cancer. In 1987, he was introduced to Marsha Rosendahl by mutual Braniff friends; both her father and brother had flown for Braniff. They married on February 8, 1992 at First United Methodist Church Richardson. In January 1993, Kirstin became his daughter legally although she was already his daughter in his heart.
After retirement, Norwood stayed involved and in the air. He flew for the Dallas Mavericks for a year and was a flight instructor on the Citation jet for Quik Turn/Simuflight for 20 years. He was part of the Trojan Phlyers acrobatic team for the same 20 years. For the past 4 years, Norwood has served as a docent at the Frontiers of Flight Museum. Norwood’s total flight time was over 27,000 hours.
Norwood was a 25-year survivor of esophageal cancer; a testament to his grit and determination. He was a Boy Scout and served in various capacities as an adult with troop 778. He was a Girl Scout dad complete with a GS green leisure suit. He was a member of the Richardson Central Kiwanis, served in various capacities at First United Methodist Church Richardson, and was a reading buddy at Dover Elementary.
Norwood is survived by his wife Marcia Band, children; Tina Graves (Greg), Richard Band (Alison), and Kirstin Morgan (Michael); grandchildren: Ben, Emily and Jack Morgan, and Katherine and Jonathan Band; brothers George and Barry (Carol), sister-in-law Myra Ward and brothers-in-law Greg Rosendahl and Paul Rosendahl (Jenny). He is also survived by several cousins, nieces, and nephews.
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Aerospace Education Foundation of Texas
402 Kingston Dr
Grand Prairie, TX 75051
972-262-0423
info@aeftx.org
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