Dave Cole came to Meeker in 1987 flying a helicopter for Malcolm Bricklin upriver.  The job lasted three months but he loved the area so much he ended up staying!

Cole had been an airline pilot for the original Frontier Airlines which was taken over by Peoples Express and Continental and he took the Bricklin job to get away from the terrible working conditions that airline bankruptcies and reorganizations had produced.  After the Yugo car received bad reviews and the Bricklin business was going downhill, David accepted a job with the Federal Aviation Administration as an Aviation Safety Inspector investigating air crashes and overseeing airline pilots and flight operations in Denver, which led to his being offered a job as a Pilot Instructor for United Airlines.  While at United from 1989 until 2005 he flew and instructed in the Boeing 727, 737, 747, 757 and 767 aircraft and retired flying the Airbus A320 out of Denver.  Shortly after the United retirement, he became the Program Director at CNCC in Rangely for Aviation Technology Flight for three years increasing their enrollment substantially and placing graduates directly into the right seat of turbo-props and regional jets for the first time in the school’s history.

David and Martha Cole have spent their time in retirement traveling five weeks to Europe, five weeks to Australia and many other trips around the US.  Martha substitute teaches (after retirement from her 3rd grade full time teaching) and David does some flight instruction locally.

The Chamber of Commerce members and guests of the February Annual Dinner recently benefited from David’s musical talent as he performed with excellence the classical viola! He also plays the violin/fiddle.

David is a avid supporter of the Meeker Chamber and believes that the key to our survival and growth during the tough economic times ahead will come by developing our tourist resources (such as hiking/biking trails) and streamlining the processes in government for individuals and businesses who wish to invest by building their homes and businesses in our community.