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When Bob Fowler completed his West-East transcontinental flight at the Moncrief Race Track, San Pablo Beach, Florida, on February 17, 1912, Lillie was giving exhibitions there and flew out to meet him. In late March, after a busy winter season, he shipped north to Cicero Field, Chicago, where he intended to make his headquarters for the summer, doing instruction, passenger carrying, and exhibition work. He began flying there in mid-April and participated in the official opening meet May 30th - June 2nd. During this event Lillie carried authorized mail between Cicero, Elmhurst and Wheaton, Illinois, and on one day carried a record load of 81 pounds. By late June, DeLloyd Thompson had joined him as an assistant instructor, and they had 17 pupils, including Katherine Stinson who graduated July 24th. On July 3 and 4, 1912, Lillie flew at the Bedford [[strikethrough]] , [[/strikethrough]] Indiana [[strikethrough]] Fair Grounds [[/strikethrough]] Fairgrounds and again carried authorized mail between Bedford and Mitchell, Indiana. About mid-July Chance Vought stated taking instructions, and in addition to his teaching, Lillie made frequent cross-country flights carrying passengers. That summer, airport manager Andrew Drew helped Lillie as an assistant instructor when needed. His personal mechanic was W. C. Robinson, later taught to fly by Lillie, and who became a nationally known pilot himself. The school had a very active season √ in 1912, training and graduating many well-known persons.

During the Cicero Meet, September [[strikethrough]] 12-22 [[/strikethrough]] 12th to 22nd, Lillie was an active participant in all the major events and on September 14th he flew for his Expert Pilot License, No. 1. During this event Lillie again carried authorized mail between Cicero and Aurora, Illinois, as a publicity stunt. The Meet was moved to Grant Park for the 1ast few days when hydro flying was included in the program. October 1st-3rd he and Lincoln Beachey flew at Peoria, Illinois, and a parachute jumper made daily descents from Lillie's plane. October 12th he was at Kinloch Field making arrangements for the school to move there as an intermediate point on the way south for the winter. He then flew three days at Carrollton, Illinois,

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