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members. While there Walsh and Beers gave rides to members and guests thus becoming one of the first clubs in the country to arrange for flights to familiarize the group with aviation by actual experience. That Fall, Beers was also given the first flying license granted by the state of Connecticut. Evidently Beers gave up flying at the end of 1911 for there is no recorded evidence in 1912, and apparently nothing came of his firm to manufacture planes. 
Following this Beers became the Western Pennsylvania Representative of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company at Erie, Pennsylvania, a factor he held until 1916 when he returned to Connecticut to engage in the Investment Securities busi-
ness in Danbury and New Haven. There he also represent [[strike-through]] at [[/strike-through]] ed several New York, firms as broker. In 1928 it was necessary that he retire due to ill health. Following an extended illness he passed away at White Plains, New York, [[strike-through]] on [[/strike-through]] August a7th, 1930 at age 58. He was survived by his wife, a son and three brothers. Burial was in Wooster Cemetery, Danbury, Connecticut.
Flying Pioneer William C. Beers was one of the earliest of wealthy sportsmen to take up flying purely for pleasure. While his flying was limit-
ed, it must be recorded that he purchased one of the first Wright planes, learned to fly, obtained a pilot license and helped to promote interest and acceptance of flying during the very early period when aviation was just beginning to receive public attention. 
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