By those who loved him.
Written by his friends at American Flyers
American Flyers lost one of its most beloved pillars earlier this year with the passing of Doc Elliott. There have been other tributes to Doc in the past, some focusing on his many accomplishments, but it is important to remember Doc for who he was as a person, not just for what he achieved.
One of the first things we think about when remembering Doc is his loyalty. Whether to American Flyers or to his friends, Doc was unwaveringly loyal. He would do anything for you. He truly wanted to help and support others. Many people say those words, but few truly mean them. Many have said that if you were going into battle, there was no one you would rather have at your side than Doc Elliott. Those who knew him best understood that although he sometimes had a tough exterior, he had a soft heart.
Sadly, one of the character traits becoming rarer today is the willingness to sacrifice one’s time and comfort to support something beyond oneself. That was not the case with Doc. He often set aside his own time and comfort to do whatever needed to be done, without complaint. He saw a need as a personal call to help. This was evident many times when a problem arose and Doc would travel across the country to address it. A far greater example of his willingness to sacrifice was shown when his son suffered a stroke and spent years in a rehabilitation center. Believing his son was not receiving the personal attention he needed, Doc spent every single day by his side to ensure his needs were never overlooked. When others urged Doc to take a break and do something he would enjoy, he refused to leave his son’s side.
Another part of Doc’s character was that he never advanced a personal agenda. He never sought to promote himself. It was never about Doc. It was always about doing the right thing. Although he often represented the national office of American Flyers, he never considered himself management. In fact, he did all he could to avoid the spotlight. At heart, Doc was an instructor, and he identified with the instructors. His passion was passing on his knowledge and understanding of flight instruction to those engaged in the daily work of training pilots. Because of his vast knowledge, Doc served as the executive editor of all American Flyers flight manuals.
Doc was the most knowledgeable flight instructor we have ever known. His knowledge extended far beyond procedures. He understood the underlying principles of aerodynamics and aircraft control, the reasons why something should be done, not just the technique itself. Nothing pleased him more than sitting with a group of instructors to talk about teaching. He did not begin by saying, “This is our policy,” but instead by asking questions that helped instructors recognize where a deeper understanding was needed. He wanted to guide them based on sound principles, not mandates. He never belittled an instructor for lacking knowledge. Instead, he led them patiently until they understood. Doc held himself to very high standards and wanted everyone else to uphold the same.
Doc’s talents extended beyond flight training. He was an extremely savvy tech expert. Whenever a computer or network system needed repair, Doc was the one people called. He also played an integral role in designing and building our first generation of flight simulators.
Although he rarely spoke about it, Doc saw heavy combat in Vietnam as a member of the 173rd Airborne Division. The one thing he did say was that no one could witness what he had seen and remain unchanged.
You might think Doc was always serious, but he was often seen laughing and having fun. Like many talented people, Doc had many passions. He loved riding motorcycles because they gave him an escape from the sense of duty that always kept him working. He enjoyed fishing, though he did not have many opportunities to do so. He was an accomplished cook who loved preparing seafood and barbecue. He enjoyed music, and his home featured a high-end stereo system with huge speakers. He also loved owning and restoring old Cadillac convertibles, which he called Keys Cruisers. Some of our best memories of Doc are of cruising along the Florida beaches in those old convertibles.
Not surprisingly, he also loved boats, and for a time, he ran a charter boat for an American Flyers offshoot called American Divers. Doc was always one of the captains on the fondly remembered Virgin Islands trips of the past. Many of us recall yelling across the water to one of his crew to save himself by diving overboard after he had drawn Doc’s brief but memorable wrath.
Tributes by nature tend to emphasize a person’s virtues and can make them sound almost too good to be true. Doc would be the first to admit he was far from perfect. He had a temper that sometimes showed itself, no matter who it was directed toward. He could also be stubborn at times, unwilling to compromise even when compromise was needed. Yet none of these human traits diminished the respect and love we had for Doc. For some of us old school guys, American Flyers will never be the same without Doc Elliott.