Murphy, Florence, 1911-2006

Florence J. Murphy was a pilot and developer of commercial aviation in Nevada. She was born on December 13, 1911 in Fernley, Nevada as Colanthe Jones, but later changed her name to Florence after her favorite aunt. She attended the University of Nevada, Reno before marrying John Murphy. They moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1936 where Murphy began working as a legal secretary and had her first experience piloting an airplane. She later took piloting lessons, and received a piloting and instructor's license by 1941.

In 1941, Murphy, her husband, and and their friend, Bud Barrett, created Sky Haven Field (currently known as North Las Vegas Airport) for civilian pilots. Both Murphy's husband and Barrett were later stationed in Wickenburg, Arizona as flight instructors, leaving Murphy to manage Sky Haven alone. In 1944, Murphy received her commercial pilot's licence as Bonanaza Air Services (later known as Bonanza Airlines) began operations out of Sky Haven. In 1946, Bonanaza Air Services relocated to Alamo Airfield (currently known as McCarran International Airport), where Murphy managed the maintenance department. Murphy and her husband sold Sky Haven Airfield in 1948, and Murphy began working for Bonanza. She eventually became Vice President of Bonanza while occasionally piloting commercial flights. In 1958, she resigned and worked in real estate until her death on January 23, 2006.

Source:

"Florence J. Murphy." Nevada Aerospace Hall of Fame. Clark County Department of Aviation. 2020. Accessed March 27, 2020.