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ARCH HOXSEY
Early Wright Exhibition Pilot

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Arch Hoxsey was born at Staunton, Illinois October 27th, 1884 of well-to-do land holders. His father died when he was seven years old and two years later he and his mother moved to California, first living at Glendora for three years, then moving to Pasadena. He attended Garfield School there and as a boy enjoyed doing odd jobs in his neighborhood, to become well known and liked by a large number of people.

Mechanically inclined, he loved automobiles and followed motor car work for some time, becoming not only an expert with engines, but also a professional driver. This led him to become a chauffeur, first with financier M. D. Martin, then for John W. Gates and while employed by him they toured Europe. Gates owned a stable of race cars and reportedly Hoxsey also did some race driving for him. Following this he became associated with the early Tourist Automobile Company of Los Angeles and there he met Walter Brook-ins, who later became one of his flying pals.

Hoxsey was interested in the first published accounts of aviation and saw his first flying at the Los Angeles aviation meet in January, 1910 and there resolved he wanted to learn to fly. He took time off and made a trip to Dayton to see the Wrights, who tended to discourage him. A short time later, however, he received word that he had been accepted as a student. Since Brookins was