Barlow H. Call

1920-1968

A native of Bancroft, Idaho, Call learned to fly at the University of Idaho through the Civilian Pilot Training Program while studying electrical engineering. When World War II started, he became an Army flight instructor providing inter-service flight training to Naval Aviation cadets.

After the War, Barlow moved to Afton working for Call-Air, Inc., who were then building a three passenger aircraft that later was developed into a complete line of agricultural application airplanes. At Call-Air, he was the CAA designated aircraft representative who provided final aircraft inspections and airworthiness certificates on each newly built Call-Air aircraft. Barlow worked his way up through the Call-Air organization eventually becoming president of the company.

In the early 1960s, Barlow founded his own Afton business: Star Valley Aeromotive. Working with his sons, he provided a full range of aviation services including instruction, aircraft rental and repair, and specialized charters. During this time, Call flew many highly publicized rescue flights into the mountains of western Wyoming picking up expectant mothers and injured cowboys.

Barlow provided many services to the people of the West through aviation, including making daring landings on mountain ridges to take snow depth measurements. His skills as a pilot and a builder were legendary as were his efforts in fostering interest and involvement in the aviation industry by the youth of Wyoming. He was killed at the age of 47 when his plane collided with a plane piloted by his son while they worked together herding horses in the Red Desert.