Walter Hagan Of American Airlines Dean Of Airline Goodwill Ambassadors Dies At 77

Walter Henry Hagan, dean of airline goodwill ambassadors and an institution with American Airlines in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for decades, died last night at home in Dallas after a valiant battle with cancer. He was 77 years old.

Still coming to work as a special services consultant for American at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport until shortly before his death, Hagan had retired from the airline as its DFW manager of special services in December 1995.

Last September, American paid tribute to Hagans many years of distinguished service by announcing that its new 21,000-square-foot Admirals Club in Terminal A at DFW, now under construction and scheduled to open early next year, will be named in Hagans honor.

"For many, many years, Walter Hagan was the soul and spirit of this great airline," said Donald J. Carty, Americans chairman and chief executive officer. "With perpetual good cheer and gentle manner, Walter gained the loyalty and admiration of countless customers and won for himself the enduring love and respect of family, friends and fellow employees.

"This extraordinary person touched the lives of thousands in a very special way and will be deeply missed by everyone," Carty said.

Born Jan. 10, 1923 in Beverly, Mass., Hagan graduated from Beverly High School in 1940 and attended Colorado State College of Education in Greeley, Colo., until the outbreak of World War II. During the war, he served for three years in Marrakech, French Morocco, and in Algeria with the Army Air Corps Air Transport Command. It was there that he met Maj. Gen. C. R. Smith, deputy commander of the Air Transport Command, who was chairman of American Airlines before and after the war.

When the war ended, Smith invited Hagan to join American Overseas Airlines, a transatlantic division operated by American from 1945 to 1950. After a training period at New Yorks LaGuardia Field, Hagan was assigned as relief manager for Europe. Based in London, he worked in Ireland, Scotland, Holland, France, Germany and Scandinavia.

When AOA was sold to Pan American World Airways, Hagan returned to the United States in 1948, and held a number of passenger service positions with American in Dallas that evolved into the special services duties for which he became famous.

In 1960, Hagan was appointed to a special assignment, traveling with an American Airlines aircraft chartered by Lyndon Johnson, who was then campaigning for vice president.

In 1964, he took on a similar special assignment for the aircraft chartered to Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey.

Later that year, Hagan became a sales representative in Americans Dallas sales office, then left the airline in 1966 to join Braniff Airways. When Braniff ceased operations in 1982, Hagan returned to American as manager of special services at DFW.

Filling the walls of Hagans office at DFW were photos of the celebrities, government figures and sports stars Hagan had come to know and befriend over the years. The names read like a "Whos Who" of the famous and powerful John Wayne, Mickey Mantle, Roger Staubach, Red Skelton, Johnny Cash, James Michener, Buzz Aldrin, and Presidents Johnson and Jimmy Carter, to list just a few.

Also among Hagans friends was country singer Dolly Parton, who in 1994 honored Hagan with a song entitled Walter Henry Hagan.

Last September, when AA Chairman Carty announced that the new DFW Terminal A Admirals Club will be named in Hagans honor, he presented Hagan with a proclamation, paying tribute to his career. At the top, beneath Hagans name, was the inscription, "The ultimate goodwill ambassador."

Hagan is survived by his wife, Joy; three sons, Edward, Timothy and Stephen, and a daughter, Kathleen.

Funeral arrangements are pending.