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193

JOHN K. "TEX" LaGRONE
Pioneer Aviator - Instructor - Barnstormer

John K. "Tex" LaGrone was born at Raymond, Mississippi, April 21, 1881. Information is lacking concerning his early life and education, but he became determined to learn to fly after a ride with early Wright pilot Phil Parmelee at Domin[[strikethrough]] q [[strikethrough]] guez Flying Field, Los Angeles, California, in 1911. Reportedly he remained at Los Angeles and later completed a flying course at some flying school, but dates and place are lacking.

Following this he acquired a Curtiss-type pusher biplane and began flying exhibitions in the mid-southern states. In early November, 1914, he had his first smashup at Holly Springs, Mississippi, when his plane struck an automobile, which broke his fall. Plane and car were both badly wrecked [[strikethrough]] by [[/strikethrough]] but La Grone escaped with minor injuries. He repaired the plane and obtained F.A.I. Pilot License No. 338 on January 6, 1915.

During 1915-1916 LaGrone reportedly flew exhibitions throughout Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas, then in 1917 he moved east to become an instructor for the Staten Island School of Aviation. He also did some exhibition flying that season and was a contestant at an air meet held in connection with automobile races at Sheepshead Bay Race Track on Long Island. 

During the late fall of 1917, La Grone became a civilian instructor with the Signal Corps, U.S. Army flight training school at Love Field, Dallas, Texas, where he remained through 1918.

After the war he returned to barnstorming in the Midwest, then later was a pilot for a Kansas City firm which had purchased a plane for business travel. In 1922, while stationed in Kansas City, he obtained a regional dealership for Waco planes which he continued to hold for over twenty years. 

Settling in Kansas City he became one of the leading figures in promoting aviation and in the establishment of their Municipal Airport. Through the 1920's he was always a nationally known contestant in all major aviation air tours, air races and flying contests of any type.