I inherited these pictures from William John Champion. I am selling 8"×10" prints of these images for $10 each. The prints are original, so there may be scratches and fingerprints. I can mail them or sell them in person.
Aerial
Image
Subject
Date
Description
Quantity
Biggs Field
1-29-41
Glossy
2 Available
Mt. Cristo Rey
2-27-41
Glossy
3 Available
Aircraft
Image
Subject
Date
Description
Quantity
Boeing P-12 at Biggs Field
1941
Matte
6 Available
Boeing P-12 at Biggs Field
1941
Matte
5 Available
People
Image
Subject
Date
Description
Quantity
Daughter of Mayor of Juarez
1942
Glossy
5 Available
Matte
7 Available
Daughter of Mayor of Juarez
1942
Glossy
4 Available
Matte
4 Available
William John Champion
Maternal Grandfather
William John Champion passed away at home.
Branch: USAAF
Rank: TSgt
Champion, Arvada Cemetery. 2011.
"Biographical Note." Stanley E. Morse Architectural Records. Denver Public Library. Web.
William J. Champion received his B.S. in architecture and planning from the University of Denver (1952). He first worked as an engineering draftsman for Gardner-Denver, Colorado (1938-1941) before wartime service as an aerial photographer and photographic laboratory chief with the Army Air Corps (1941-1945). Like Dion, Champion also worked for a number of different architectural firms in Colorado (including Stanley E. Morse, 1959-1960), as a draftsman, field supervisor or designer before joining with Morse and Dion as a full partner in 1963. The architectural offices for Morse, Dion & Champion were once located in a building that Morse had designed and constructed at 526 Cherokee Street, Denver, Colorado. The practice closed after Morse's death in 1968. Champion, William J. MS.
Technical Sergeant, William J. Champion 2084282 formerly of 135 Cedar st. (5707 Saulsbury) Arvada, enlisted as a private, May 3, 1939, in the 120th Observation Squadron (U.S. Army Air Corps) Colorado National Guard. This unit was inducted into Federal Service Jan 5, 1941 and attached to the 1st Cavalry Division*, Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas where the unit was stationed at near by Biggs Field. By mid 1942 a large new base was completed and Biggs Field became a 2nd Air Force B-24 base under the 1st Bomber Command. The 120th was reorganised and Champion was transferred to the 306th Air Base Squadron where he became Chief of the Base Photographic Section. Duties consisted of both aerial and ground photography, simulated camera bombing, bomb spotting and aerial gunnery as well as administrative duties consistent with the function of an Air Force Photographic unit, primarily a 3rd phase bombing and gun-camera training facility. Except for brief periods of detached service, Champion remained in this assignment throughout the war, honourably discharged in Oct. 1945 he returned to Arvada. In spring of 1946 Champion was the first student to enroll in the School of Architecture of the University of Denver, continued his service and served for two years in the post war Air National Guard stationed at Buckley Field.
*the only remaining fully horse mounted Cavalry Division in the Army Champion, William John. 1995. MS.
It was, at times, a crazy war, even in Arvada. In the spring of 1941 Champion received a somewhat stern letter, addressed to; Corporal William John Champion, 120th Obs. Sqdn., U. S. Air Corps, Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas, from The Arvada Draft Board. The letter demanded an explanation as to why subject “Corporal” had failed to register for the draft. A somewhat amused and bewildered Corporal obtained the First Sergeant’s permission to take the matter up with his Commanding Officer, Col. Harrison Wellman, who ordered that the letter be “disposed of in an appropriate manner.” Champion smartly saluted with a tongue-in-cheek “Yes Sir, thank you Sir.” The order was carried out with considerable ceremony and traditional Air Corps elan, the details of which are best left to the imagination of the reader.
P. S. Looking back over those fifty-four years I often wish I had saved that letter. Colorado. Deaths. 2011. Print.
01 Name: William J. Champion
02 Sex: Male
03 Death Date: July 6
05 Age: 94
06 Birth Date: Dec. 31, 1916
07 Birth Place: Arvada, Colorado
08 US Armed Forces: Yes
09 Death Place: 9161 West 66th Avenue, Arvada, Jefferson County
10 Occupation: Architect
11 Marital Status: Widowed
12 Spouse: Nellie Garlick
17 Father: Richard J. Champion
18 Mother: Laura Jolly
19 Granddaughter: Jane Wright-Fair
20 Burial: Arvada Cemetery, Arvada, Colorado
23 Death Time: 9:30 AM
34 Cause A: Heart Failure
34 Cause B: Critical Aortic Stenosis
34 Cause C: Hypertension & Coronary Artery Disease
35 Autopsy: No Feiss, Carl. Letter. 25 Aug. 1948. MS. University of Denver, Colorado.
Dear Mr. Champion:
I am very pleased to be able to inform you that after having examined your academic records and your letters of recommendation, we shall be very happy to accept you as a regular student in the School of Architecture and Planning and to have you enroll for the Freshman class of 1948-49. I am informing the Office of Admissions of this. We look forward to having you register with us in September 1948. Feiss, Carl. Letter. 29 Jan. 1946. MS. University of Denver, Colorado.
Dear Mr. Champion:
Your letter indicating an interest in receiving architectural training and work toward an architectural degree has been received, and is greatly appreciated.
It is only through such letters as yours that it will be possible for us at the University of Denver to judge the need for an Architectural School in Denver.
We are now studying the possibilities and I hope to give you an answer as to whether or not we will be able to serve you within the next two months. In the meantime, please be assured that your name has been added to the list of applicants for information and that you will be kept in close touch with the developments.
I would be very happy to see you and discuss your personal interests in an architectural education at any time. Honorable Discharge from the National Guard. Denver, 1948. Print.
William John Champion Colorado Air National Guard as a testimonial of honest and faithful service, is hereby Honorably Discharged from the National Guard of Colorado and the National Guard of the United States.
01 Name: William J. Champion
02 Serial: 20841282
03 Grade: T/Sgt
04 Arm or Service: AF
05 Organization: Hq & Hq Sq, 86th Ftr Wg
06 Separation Date: 22 Nov 1948
07 Separation Place: Buckley Field, Denver, Colorado
08 Address: 135 Cedar Street
09 Birth Date: 31 Dec 1916
10 Birth Place: Arvada, Colorado
11 Civilian Occupation: Eng. Draftsman
12 Dependents: Two
13 Eyes: Brown
14 Hair: Brown
15 Height: 5 ft 7 in
16 Weight: 189 lb
17 Citizen: Yes
18 Race: White
19 Status: Married
20 Enlistment: 29 Jun 1946
21 Military Occupation: Intelligence Spec. (631)
25 Character: Excellent
28 Prior Service: AUS, AC from 7 May 1939 to 3 Nov 1945
30 Longevity: 9 yr 7 mo 10 da United States. Bureau of Reclamation. Grand Coulee Dam. 1983. Print.
This Certifies That William J. Champion Architect worked on the Grand Coulee Dam and the Columbia Basin Project United States. War Department. Military Training Certificate. 1936. Print.
William J. Champion has attended the Basic Course of Instruction, Infantry Arm, at the Citizens' Military Training Camp held under the auspices of the War Department of the United States at Ft. Logan. Colo. from July second to thirty first, one thousand nine hundred and thirty six. U of Denver, 1952. Print.
The University of Denver on the nomination of The Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences has admitted William John Champion to the Degree of Bachelor of Architecture and Planning with all the Rights, Honors, and Privileges here and everywhere appertaining to that Degree
Given at the City of Denver, in the State of Colorado on the fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fifty-two
