http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/321832_alaska30.html?source=mypi Last updated June 29, 2007 4:58 p.m. PT Plane registered to former Alaska Airline Chairman crashes COLIN McDONALD P-I REPORTER He loved to fly. He loved to help. He had a knack for making businesses grow. Bruce Kennedy, the former chairmen of Alaska Airlines, did all three until the moment his plane crashed into a high school parking lot in Cashmere and burned. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of someone we love and admire so much," said his wife Karleen in a statement. "And take comfort in the fact that he died doing something he loved and in which he took great pleasure." Kennedy was flying his single engine Cessna 182 from Hot Springs Mont, one his favorite destinations, to the small airport outside of Wenatchee to visit his grandchildren on Thursday. He was 68 years old. Investigators are not sure what caused the crash, but plane was put down in the school parking lot next to the airport, crashing into a parked flat bed truck and a tree before coming to a stop a few feet from a house. Kennedy did not get out of the plane, which then started to burn, according to Chelan County sheriff deputy Jeff Middleton. No one else was hurt. The Chelan County Sheriff's Office has not identified the pilot, but authorities said Friday that "all indications" are that Kennedy was the victim. Before visiting Montana, Kennedy stopped at Sand Point Idaho to check on the progress of the Quest Aircraft Co, which he served as the chairman of. The company is developing a 10-seat turbo prop plane specifically for serving humanitarian missions to small remote airfields worldwide. It was work that required his humanity and expertise in airline management. When retiring from Alaska Kennedy planned to go to China for a year to teach English and joined the board of the Mission Aviation Fellowship, which he served on for the next 15 years, eight as chairman. The group specializes in distributing food and medical supplies to remote regions of the world with the 90 small aircraft that it operates. >From 1978 to 1991 Kennedy served as Alaska Airlines chairmen, over seeing the airline's purchase of Horizon Air and Jet America and growing the company from serving Seattle and 10 Alaskan cities to flying to 92 cities across the western half of North America. When announcing his retirement in 1991 Kennedy said, "My era in business has come to an end. The industry's in a tough situation, but Alaska is in good hands. There's no chance of me returning to the company." Alaska was only one three companies to turn a profit in 1990 as the industry lost a total of more than $3 billion due to war jitters and skyrocketing fuel prices following the Gulf War. "Bruce's legacy extends far beyond his storied leadership of the airline," said Bill Ayer, Alaska Air Group's chairman referring to the growth of the company under Kennedy's leadership. "For all those who worked with Bruce, we remember him as a man of great vision and compassion." Kennedy was born in Denver Colo. in 1938 and moved with his family to Alaska while in high school. That is where his "heart remained," said his wife. Kennedy graduated from The University of Alaska and after receiving his commission as an artillery officer served his tour at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. While there he met and married Karleen Isaacson and two made their home in Fairbanks where they raised the children Kevin Kennedy and Karin Hejmanowski. The Associated Press contributed to this report. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for earth-friendly autos? Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center. http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/ <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".