Lawrence, Aretz, 1892-1968

Dates

• Existence: October 9, 1892 - February 29, 1968

Biographical Information

Larwence Ignatious "Cap" Aretz was born on October 9th, 1892 in Hennepin County, Minnesota, to his parents Anton and Caroline Aretz.

In his early 20's, he worked in Minneapolis as a Cadillac salesman. With the great war looming, Lawrence joined the army in 1917 as a flyer in the avational signal corps and eventually earned a command pilot rating. He ammassed over 12,000 hours in the air without accident. He served in the army for 22 years before his retirement. He married his wife Florence Lamourex on October 10th, 1922 and they had 2 daughters and 2 sons, Rosemary, Mary, Richard, and Donald.

In 1928, Lawrence came to Indiana and became the manager of the Shambaugh airport in Lafayette, beginning his tenured career as one of Indiana's pioneers in aviation and was largely responsible for the development of commerical aviation and the wide-spread interest of flying in Lafayette. He managed the cities first ever airport for 5 years, overseeing many airshows and exhibitions. Starting in the late 1920s he was known for performing his own exhibitions and offering flying lessons to Purdue students as well as airplane rides which were oftentimes advertised in the Purdue Exponent. In 1931, he helped organize Lafayettes first flying club to stimulate interest in aeronatics and air transporation. Eventually after the airports closing, he went on to become the manager of operations at the Purdue University Airport from the years 1934 to 1946. During his long tenure at the Purdue University Airport, he oversaw many events such as the airports opening, training for World War 2, various expanisions, assisted 526 students obtaining their pilots ratings from the government, taught flying classes, and worked with notable pilots such as Wiley Post and Amelia Earhart. During his time at Purdue he also supervised the civilian-pilot training program, sponsored by the US government, to help training pilots for the war effort. In 1938, he won the Lincoln National Trophy, which was Indiana's highest aviation award, for his judgment and observation of the rules during Indiana's 9th air tour, of which time he has a record for training more pilots without accident than any other flyer in the state.

After his resignation from the Purdue airport in 1946 he went on to found and work at the Aretz Airport in Lafayette until his passing in 1968. Captain Aretz is buried in Saint Boniface Cemetery in Lafayette, Indiana.

Citation:

Find A Grave, Lawrence Ignatious "Cap" Aretz https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/131874299/lawrence-ignatius-aretz

Citation:

Rodenberger, G. (1997). Aretz Airport still family-owned operation. Lafayette Business Digest, 15(1), 3. https://purdue.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01PURDUE_PUWL/5imsd2/cdi_proquest_reports_232618371

Citation:

Two clippings, undated, UA 12, Series 1, Sub-Series 7, File 6, Box: 8, Folder: 4. Purdue University Department of Aviation Technology records, UA 12. Purdue University Archives and Special Collections. https://archives.lib.purdue.edu/repositories/2/archival_objects/44948

Citation:

L. Aretz Resigns Position on Staff To Open His Airport, Purdue Exponent, September 15, 1945. https://historicalnewspapers.lib.purdue.edu/?a=d&d=PE19450915-01.1.1&srpos=22&e=------194-en-20--21--txt-txIN-airport----1945---1

Citation:

"Lafayette Business Men Will Organize Flying Club", Purdue Exponent, Februrary 10, 1931. https://historicalnewspapers.lib.purdue.edu/?a=d&d=PE19310210-01.1.2&srpos=3&e=------193-en-20--1--txt-txIN-aretz----1931---1

Citation:

"With Our Aviators", The Purdue Alumnus, June 1, 1938. https://historicalnewspapers.lib.purdue.edu/?a=d&d=ALU19380601-01.2.24&srpos=2&e=------193-en-20--1--txt-txIN-aretz----1938---1

Citation:

"Captain Aretz is highly apraised", Purdue Alumnus, September 1, 1943. https://historicalnewspapers.lib.purdue.edu/?a=d&d=ALU19430901-01.2.9&srpos=1&e=------194-en-20--1--txt-txIN-aretz----1943---1

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