Burton D. Humphrey – “Hump” (In Memoriam)

Burt was my roomate while at Columbus, and I did keep up with him for the short time until he was killed in a 1972 crash. Burt went to Ellington after Flight School for transition to the 101. He was from Fargo, ND, and that is where the crash occured. I was out of the country at the time and did not learn of the crash till several weeks after the fact. Burt was a good guy, a good friend and I have thought of him fondly through the years.

In case you are interested, I am attaching the safety report from his crash. I apologize for the quality of the sketches–a copy of a copy of a copy… Fate truly is the hunter in some cases.

— Bill Grubbs (“Buzzard”), July 31, 2012

Burton D. Humphrey – “Hump”

“Burt, better known as ‘the Hump,’ is normally not seen or heard on the flight line. But this is deliberately planned and constitutes a phenomena known as the Guard syndrome or Humphrey’s law. In his words, “If they can’t find you, they can’t volunteer you.” As of this date he holds the ATC record for cleverly avoiding all extra duties: snack bar, dispatch, and regalia. Having a lust for the finer things, give him a Michelob and he’ll follow you anywhere.”

71-01 Yearbook, page 35.