SCHWARTZ, John William (Black Jack)

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ February 13, 2007 John William "Black Jack" Schwartz went home to the Lord Jan. 30, 2007 at the Payson Care Center. John was born in Miami April 25, 1930. He graduated high school in 1948 and attended Annapolis Naval Academy where he graduated in 1952, commissioned as a U.S. Air Force jet fighter pilot in 1953. He served as jet flight instructor pilot at Laredo Air Force Base in Texas after completing F.T.A.F. instructor pilot school in Dec. 1953 until May of 1957, primarily in T-33 aircraft. By that date, as a First Lieutenant, he had been promoted to Flight Commander, supervising 15 instructors and their assigned students. John then transferred to Strategic Air Command, completed B-47 Aircraft Commander School at McConnell A.F.B. in Kansas, served as combat ready B-47 Commander with the 305th Bomb Wing until Dec. 1961. He was a B-58 Commander when honorably discharged in May 1967, having accumulated nearly 5,000 hours of flying time, 4,000 in jet aircraft. After the service, John owned and operated a cocktail lounge in Phoenix from 1967 to 1974. He then went to Long Beach, Calif., and became a heavy truck driver until 1977. After returning to Arizona, John used his past flying experience and became a Ground School Instructor at Sawyer School of Aviation in Phoenix. In 1978, John went to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott as classroom instructor in Aviation Sciences. While at Embry-Riddle, John wrote his own textbook for use in Navigation II, and published articles in Flying Magazine. In 1981, John moved to Hawley Lake, and later to Pinetop, where he did some freelance writing, supplementing income with various jobs ranging from grocery store meat clerk, lumber yard delivery truck driver, bartender, and a security guard, having written two novels and a collection of short stories as yet unpublished. In 1995, John moved to Apache Junction and later to Roosevelt Lake and then back to Pinetop to live with friends until Dec. of 2004, when his health forced him to the Payson Care Center. John had a personal and natural ability to establish a keep raport with people, bridging any age and experience gaps. John loved to ride motorcycles, go camping and generally have a good time. He was a loyal and devoted friend. John had many friends; four children; Valerie, Vickie, John, Jr., and Allen; one brother, Bill; and two sisters, Fern and Ruby. He will be greatly missed. John's body has been donated to science as per his wishes. A memorial will be held at a later date.