[Carl in Tampa]

On Monday of this week a twin engine fixed wing aircraft left the Lakeland Linder Airport enroute Cairo, Georgia. The owner/pilot was a Tampa attorney, Gary Odom; the co-pilot was a retired Hillsborough County (Tampa) Sheriff's Office Deputy Sheriff, Lester Hathcox. About an hour after departure the airplane disappeared from the FAA radar, and subsequently the crashed airplane was found in Georgia. There were no survivors.

Lester was a pilot serving in the HCSO Aviation Unit for eighteen years after initially performing more routine law enforcement duties. He was a senior helicopter pilot and a qualified flight instructor. He was highly respected and well liked by his associates, me among them. In retirement he continued in flying, piloting the Channel 8 TV news helicopter in Tampa, and flying for others, including the Tampa attorney.

While still flying for the Sheriff's Office, Lester was in a helicopter which lost power and crashed in a mangrove swamp on the edge of Tampa Bay. His injuries were minor.

After retiring, Lester often came by the Aviation Unit Hangar at Tampa Executive airport to visit and maintain old friendships. He will be sorely missed by all of us.