Robert Six

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Robert Forman Six was born June 25, 1907, in Stockton, California. He was the CEO of Continental Airlines from 1938 to 1980. He died October 6, 1986, in his Los Angeles International Airport office.

[edit] Business career

Robert Six started his business career in sales for a public utility company and was fired for taking flying lessons on company time. Six was one of the last of the colorful group of innovators, pioneers, and visionaries who built the airline industry into what it is today. He saw his own airline grow from a tiny, three-stop operation into a major trunk carrier.

He learned how to fly in a single-engine OX-5 Alexander Eagle Rock biplane. After about 10 hours aloft, he received the pilot's license number 5772 in 1929, at the age of 22. He bought an OX-5 Travelair from Walter Beech, founded the Valley Flying Service, and proceeded to sell scenic rides to passengers and race on weekends

Though many credit Six as the founder of Continental Airlines', its history dates back to 1934, when the carrier was operated under the name of Varney Speed Lines by its owners Walter Varney and Louis Mueller. The would be future legacy airline operated out of El Paso, Texas. The carrier operated between Pueblo, Colorado to El Paso, Texas with stops in Las Vegas, Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mueller gained control over the carrier and in 1936 and sold 40% of the company shares to Six. In July 1937, Robert Six changed the name of Varney Speed Lines to Continental Airlines and the carrier moved its headquarters to Denver, Colorado.

During the 1940' and 50's, Continental Airlines, led by Robert Six, was able to expand its fleet of aircraft and profits through its participation in World War II by providing air transportation to the military. In the early 1950's, Continental Airlines merged with southwest based Pioneer Airlines. This merger allowed Continental Airlines to operate air routes between Texas and New Mexico. It was during this time that Robert Six met and married singer/actress Ethel Merman in 1953. By the end of the 1950's, Continental Airlines had expanded its routes to include Chicago and Los Angeles and was operating 7 days a week.

Six married The Honeymooners star Audrey Meadows (Alice Kramden) in 1961. He was previously married to Ethel Merman. Coincidentally, by the early 1960's, Continental moved its headquarters to Los Angeles, California and was providing air transportation for United States Military troops to Asia during the Vietnam War. As a result of Continental's experience in Asian operations, Continental formed Air Micronesia, picking up air routes between Saipan and Honolulu. He promised to operate the Micronesia routes with pure jets. Six's goal was to commence major Pacific service.