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THE CHRONICLES OF OKLAHOMA
Later, Lindbergh gave a half-hour address detailing the need for
cities to build airports in order to develop a national system of air-
ways. He forecasted an ambitious future for aviation. The master of
ceremonies noted that Goebel was not on the program but invited
him to also speak. He kept it brief. Considering himself a spokes-
person for aviation, all he had to say was what Lindbergh had said.
Then he took his seat.60
On the morning of October 1, 1927, Goebel and Lindbergh rode to
McIntyre Field. Thousands of citizens had thronged to witness their
departure. Addressing their admirers, Goebel spoke first. He thanked
Tulsans for their hospitality, acknowledged their admiration, and
promised to return some day. Then Lindbergh took his turn at the
microphone. Repeating his admonition to build airports, he closed
with a salute to Goebel. Pointing to a farmhouse a quarter mile dis-
tant, Lindbergh said that his feat was like picking up a rock, throw-
ing it at the house, and hitting it. Goebel, he explained, threw his
rock and hit the keyhole on the front door. The twenty-five hundred
people in attendance expressed their approval with a loud roar.61
Lindbergh was flying on to Little Rock, Arkansas. He had come to
Tulsa from Oklahoma City, where the state fair was in progress.
Goebel was going to the state capital to begin his tour with the
Woolaroc. Lindbergh departed first. Then Goebel lifted off and be-
gan to circle the field, and Lindbergh joined him, flying alongside
for three-quarters of a circuit around the airport until the Spirit of
St. Louis banked, turning southeast.
It was raining hard when Goebel landed in Oklahoma City. Bennett
Griffin greeted him, introducing H. C. Martin, chair of the Oklahoma
City Chamber of Commerce aviation committee. The weather put a
damper on the annual carnival, agricultural showcase, and indus-
trial exposition. The scheduled appearance at the fairgrounds was
changed, and a luncheon was held with the chamber of commerce.62
During the afternoon round of introductions Goebel visited with
Oklahoma Governor Henry S. Johnston, who wondered why the
younger Lindbergh was a colonel and Goebel, an older pilot, only a
lieutenant. Goebel explained that Lindbergh had already been a
captain in the Air Service Reserve and that President Calvin Coo-
lidge had made the promotion to colonel. The governor had been
coached in his questioning by Walter Harrison, editor of the Daily
Oklahoman, who had himself been alerted to Goebel's inferior sta-
tus by George L. Miller, proprietor of the 101 Ranch in Ponca City.
Miller had posed the same question to Goebel at Woolaroc Ranch on
September 29. Hearing Goebel's explanation, he assured the pilot
64