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Mel had pointed out the hazard frequently to the Board of Airport Commissioners and to members of City Council, who controlled airport financing. As well as immediate construction of more runways and taxiways, Mel had urged purchase of additional land around the airport for long term development. There had been plenty of discussion, and sometimes angry argument, as a result.

As well as the airport’s future, Mel’s personal future was at stake.

Only a short time ago, Mel Bakersfeld had been a national spokesman for ground logistics of aviation, a rising young genius in aviation management. Then, abruptly, a single event had wrought a change, and the future was no longer clear.

That event was the John F. Kennedy assassination.

It had been four years ago. Four years since the gray November afternoon when, he had pulled the microphone across his desk toward him and had announced the shattering news which seconds earlier had flashed from Dallas.

His eyes, as he spoke then, had been on the photograph whose inscription read: To my friend Mel Bakersfeld—John F. Kennedy.

The photograph still remained, as did many memories.

The memories began, for Mel, with his speech in Washington, D.C.

At the time, as well as airport general manager, he had been president of the Airport Operators Council – the youngest leader, ever, of that small but influential body linking major airports of the world. AOC headquarters was in Washington, and Mel flew there frequently.

His speech was to a national planning congress.

Aviation, Mel Bakersfeld had pointed out, was the only truly successful international undertaking. It was a means of intermingling diverse populations at ever-diminishing cost. Even more significant was aerial commerce. Movement of freight by air, already mammoth in extent, was destined to be greater still. Yet, airports, runway systems, terminals, were geared to yesterday, with scant—if any—provision for tomorrow; what was lost sight of, or ignored, was the speed of aviation’s progress. Usually, too much was spent on showplace terminals, too little on operating areas.