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Columbia Helicopters Founder Dies at Age 83

AURORA, Ore. -- The founder of Oregon's Columbia Helicopters, Wes Lematta, died Thursday at the age of 82. A company spokesman says Lematta died of bladder cancer after he was diagnosed 25 years ago.

 

Lematta started the company in Aurora in 1957 where he gave helicopter rides to people at county fairs. In that same year, he rescued 17 sailors from a Corps of Engineers dredge, the William T. Rossell.

 

The family-run company today has more than 600 employees all over the world. They provide helicopters for logging, oil exploration, firefighting and building remote towers.

 

Photo courtesy of Columbia Helicopters.

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