William Thomas Brunton (Bill)

William (Bill) Brunton - Was born on July 27, 1951, and was raised in Tulsa, Ok. He attended Bishop Kelley High School, and the University of Tulsa, graduating in 1973 with a BS in Journalism. During college he took the necessary training, and obtained his Private Pilot Certificate. During the next couple of years he obtained his Commercial Pilot Certificate, Instrument Rating, Multi engine rating, and Certified Flight Instructor Certificate, and worked part time as a free lance flight instructor in the Tulsa area.

In March of 1973 he went to work for the Spartan School of Aeronautics as a primary flight instructor, training pilot students from all over the world. In December of 1974 he obtained his Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. When he left Spartan in 1976, he had been promoted to the position of Assistant Chief Flight Instructor.

On July 20, 1974, he married Marilyn Kay Godfrey, of Stillwater OK.

During the summer of 1976, Bill applied for a job at Beech Aircraft Corporation in Wichita, KS. He was hired. BIll and Kay moved to Wichita, and he began work on September 20, 1976 as an Instructor - Pilot Training, in the Beech Aircraft Training Center. At Beech he had the opportunity to perform advanced training of the customers who purchased new, and used, Beechcraft products. During his ten years there he traveled all over the world providing on site training and assisting in the delivery of new aircraft to their new owners. Bill became qualified to fly the entire line of aircraft produced at the Beech Factory, due to the fact that he was capable of presenting the courses in the Spanish Language to foreign customers. Bill also assisted the sales department in sales demonstration tours, and the promotion of aircraft overseas. Beech Aircraft was a rather large company, however it was bought by Raytheon, and Bill joined one of the largest companies in the U.S.

In 1976, Bill bought his first home computer, a Radio Shack TRS80 Model I. He taught himself programming, and began writing programs for business and consumers. Hence, Cottage Software Inc. was born. Cottage Software was a very successful business that sold computer hardware and software until the company was closed in 1990.

On July 26, 1982, his first child, Lisa Michele Brunton, was born.

Also in 1982, Bill studied, and earned his Novice Amateur Radio Operator's License. His callsign assigned by the FCC was KA0SEP.

On September 18, 1984, his second child, Elizabeth Rosan Brunton, was born.

In early 1985, Bill was appointed by the Federal Aviation Administration as a Designated Pilot Examiner. This designation authorized Bill to give the required tests, and issue pilot FAA pilot certificates.

During the end of 1986, Beech Aircraft decided to sell the training department to Flight Safety International, the largest, and most respected national pilot training company. Bill began working for Flight Safety, on January 1, 1987, and he was quickly promoted to the position of Director - Standards, responsible for the instructional content of all the various courses taught at the center. He was also responsible for the standardization, and training of the 50 instructors employed there. At Flight Safety, Bill gave instruction in advanced, full motion, visual aircraft simulators.

On November 25, 1989,William Eugene Brunton was born.

During the spring of 1990, while attending the Dayton Hamvention in Dayton, OH. Bill meet the owner of Amateur Electronic Supply, the largest supplier of Amateur Radio equipment in the U.S. During that summer, Bill was offered the position of Vice-President Flight Operations with the firm. He relocated the family to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and began duties there in July, 1990. At Amateur Electronic Supply he was responsible for the operation of the flight department, and he assisted in sales and promotion of amateur radio products. The company purchased a Beechcraft Starship I aircraft. The aircraft was equipped with operating positions at 7 of the 8 passenger seats, and during trips it was common to fill the seats with operators to talk to other amateur operators on the ground. Bill had the opportunity to visit just about every manufacturer of amateur equipment in the U.S., and he went to many of the hamfests around the country, where he gave Starship rides to customers. The Starship was featured in the company's catalog, and in it's national advertising campaign. This aviation activity help the company increase sales by 30%. Alas, in 1993, the owner of Amateur Electronic Supply became ill, and new management took over. Despite the benefits of the aviation department, as is frequently the case, the flight department was the first item to be cut, and Bill found himself without employment in the spring of 1993.

In June, 1993 the family left behind all their wonderful friends in Wisconsin, and returned to Tulsa, Ok. Bill became self employed as an Aviation and Data Processing/Computer Consultant. Bill performed pilot training on Beechcraft products for various independent pilot training companies, pilot service for various local companies, and computer consulting.

In July, 1995, Bill celebrated 25 years in his aviation career, and had acquired over 11,000 hours of flight experience.

During the summer of 1995, Cottage Software was opened again. This time the objective was to be an Internet Provider. Initially Internet services were to be provided in eastern Oklahoma, and eventually nation wide. The main goal is to provide business in eastern Oklahoma with a means of advertising and promoting their goods and services on the World Wide Web.

Hobbies:

In addition to aviation and computers, Bill enjoys Amateur Radio, callsign KA0SEP, working on and restoring automobiles, and photography.