Ozark Airlines was a regional carrier prior to the deregulation of the airline business. Slowly, but surely, they grew. The company started out in the Ozark Mountain area of Missouri. They started with prop planes and then they modernized their fleet to become a 100% jet fleet. The type of planes that they flew between small Missouri cities, like Springfield, MO, and the bigger metro areas were comfortable DC-9 jets. That is a big difference from what the current owner of Ozark's routes files today.

Just like in nature, the tiny animal is eaten by the bigger animal, and that animal is gobbled up by an even larger animal. Survival of the deepest pocket. Ozark was bought by Trans World Airlines. TWA was later "merged" (bought) into the American Airlines route system. American Airlines uses their subsidiary airline, American Eagle, to fly the smaller routes that used to be a part of Ozark's route system. American Eagle files several different small jets. All of them are as comfortable as a sardine can. The seats are incredibly hard and uncomfortable. The only good thing - THEY DON'T SMELL LIKE A SARDINE CAN. 

There is a rumor going around that Granny from the Beverly Hillbillies was the founding partner of Ozark Airlines, and was one of the first pilots. Supposedly, she liked to put on a leather flying helmet, and stick her head out the window, while she was flying the turboprop or jet airliner. Sometimes, she would see a possum on the ground and stick her shotgun out the cockpit window. A fellow Ozark Airlines employee would pick up the carcass. The next day baked possum on some of the Ozark flights. Yum, Yum.

No, that isn't true. Granny wasn't one of the founders, nor did she fly the planes. I'm just being silly. I do believe that they occasionally served baked "mystery meat" on some of the flights. Who knows. Maybe, possibly.

I used to like, and maybe love, Southwest Airlines. That airline reminded me of the true grit that Ozark had. Both airlines found a niche and grew. Southwest has taken it to the next level. They have surpassed the older generation. Ozark never bought an approximately equal size airline, as compared to Southwest's recent purchase announcement of Air Tran Airlines. Ozark grew by giving quality service. Little by little, they grew. 

When I was in grade school, my Uncle & Aunt gave me two shares of Ozark Airlines. I loved that stock. I constantly checked the American Stock Exchange listings. If I remember right, the highest price was in the area of $17. The stock was bought at $5.50. I flew on "my" airline a few times. I would point at the ashtray, located on the arm of the seat, and say that is mine. That ashtray was equal to the worth of my stock certificates. At that time, the stock was selling for about $5 per share. 

When TWA bought Ozark, they required the surrender of all of the physical shares of Ozark Airlines. Unfortunately, I lost the shares. They offered a typical "greedy" corporate solution. Pay a fee of $35 and I could get my money from the purchased shares. The stock wasn't even worth that amount. Several years later, they again offered the same "greedy" deal. This time I found the certificate, but I wanted to keep it. Stock certificates are collectible.

I knew that I would ultimately get my money for the sold stock certificates. The money would be sent to the state government as "lost money". The problem was, I didn't know which state would have my money. Ozark was incorporated in Delaware, and it's headquarters was in St. Louis. The more likely state depository would be my home state. A few years later, I checked the "lost money" website and I found my money. I got all of my money, and I didn't have to give up the stock certificate. Pretty cool.

Usually, it is the big guys that get to say what is going to happen. This time, it was the little guy. One tiny victory for the little guy. 

Posted below is a 1967 magazine ad for Ozark Airlines. The advertisement shows the route system that the regional airline had. I have also posted a cleaned up version of my un-canceled stock certificate. There aren't that many out there. TWA tried to prevent all of the certificates from surviving. I FOILED THEIR PLANS.









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