David "Buddy" Preston Majors' Obituary
DAVID PRESTON 'BUDDY' MAJORS (1921-2012) David Preston 'Buddy' Majors, pilot, amateur golf champion, businessman, husband, father, friend, died on November 5, 2012. He was 92 years old. Buddy was born on March 29, 1921. He spent most of his early childhood in South America, where his father was a pioneering oil man. His parents tutored him until he was 14, when he entered school in the United States. He graduated from Lamar High School in Houston. He attended college at the University of Texas and then the University of Houston where he learned to fly. He soloed at age 19, and received his instructor's rating a year later. He was a flight instructor at Corsicana Army Air Base, then decided to use his flight skills in the China-Burma-India theater. Buddy flew for the China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) from 1943 to 1945, the height of World War II. During that time, he flew more than 1,500 hours and 190 round trips across the Himalayas, the so-called 'Hump' between India and China, transporting cargo and personnel to America's allies. The supply efforts of the famed airmen of the CNAC was 'one of the greatest aviation accomplishments of all time,' said author Gregory Crouch in his book China's Wings. On one particularly memorable flight, Buddy flew Carl Eifler, chief of America's intelligence operations in Burma, behind enemy lines into Burma. They landed safely in a field, but upon takeoff, their plane crashed and they were stuck behind enemy lines. Neither was seriously injured, and they trekked out of enemy territory. They were aided by local Kachin headmen, who provided food, shelter and horses. They walked, rode borrowed horses, and forded streams, eventually making their way through the Burmese jungle to a British outpost. Buddy never forgot that journey and talked about it often. Upon leaving CNAC, Buddy accepted a commission in the U.S. Navy where he served as lieutenant and was assigned to the Jacksonville, Florida Naval Air Station. Buddy moved to New Orleans in 1946 and started Majors Tool Company, which supplied oil field equipment and machinery. Buddy loved sports, and he was good at them. In his younger days, he played tennis, winning the Houston city and district tennis championships and once opposing Bobby Riggs in a match. But golf became his sport of choice. He was a six-time winner of the City Championship of the New Orleans Golf Association. He won in years 1954, 1955, 1957, and after a lapse of seven years, again in years 1964, 1965, and 1966. He was named New Orleans Golf Sportsman of the Year in 1965. Buddy never lost his love of the game, playing golf well into his 80s, shooting his age more than 100 times. He was particularly proud when, at age 87, he shot an 82 at Battle Creek golf course in Broken Arrow. His competitive streak also included bridge, and he was a Life Master. In his later years, he loved to play bridge with his friends at Broken Arrow Senior Citizens Center. Buddy is survived by his wife of 25 years, Sue Majors, his sister, Frances, and by two daughters, one son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A private family service will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Clarehouse, 7617 S. Mingo Road, Tulsa, OK 74133, or to Grace Hospice Foundation, 6400 S. Lewis Ave, Tulsa, OK 74136.
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