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Latham was watching this local aviation activity with much interest and soon signed up for instruction at the school. He started in late March and made his first solo flight on April 26, 1914. He continued his practice with L. E. McLain bought one of the Benoist flying boats when the airline and school operations closed in the spring of 1914.

Latham and McLain decided to put their craft to work that summer and contracted to make exhibition flights and carry passengers at Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania, for twelve weeks, with Latham flying. He started operations there about May 30th, and during this engagement had a wing failure in flight and he and his passenger crashed into the lake, but [[strikethrough]] was [[/strikethrough]] were not injured. Latham repaired the plane and completed his contract.

Following this he gave up flying and returned to the Electric Company at St. Petersburg as General Manager until it was sold to other financial interests. Latham then became President of the Pinellas County Power Company, and later the Florida Power Company. In 1926 he resigned from the Power Company to become First Vice President and General Manager of the Gandy Bridge Company. Two years later he resigned and moved to New York City to look after several patents in which he had a substantial financial interest. He remained there until 1939 when he returned to St. Petersburg to live.

During World War II Latham was Liaison Officer between the Army Air Corps and the St. Petersburg Hotel Owners, and assisted in all contract negotiations between the Army and the owners. In 1944-1946 he was Senior Training Officer with the Veterans Administration in charge of the schools in the State of Florida used for the re-education of war veterans. At one time Latham owned the Penn State Hotel in St. Petersburg and was appointed a State Hotel Inspector.

During his later years Latham made his home at the Elks Club Apartments and passed away there on  January 12, 1961, at the age 76. He was survived by a son in St. Petersburg, two brothers in Philadelphia and three grandchildren. He was buried in Royal Palm Cemetery, St. Petersburg. He held a life membership in both 

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