John Walton dies in plane crash

[iJon]

(CNN) -- Wal-Mart heir John Walton died Monday when his ultralight aircraft crashed after taking off from an airport in Jackson, Wyoming, the company announced.

Link

Despite many of you hate Wal-Mart, it's a sad day here in Northwest Arkansas. It's hard for me to say anything bad about it, considering all the generosity Wal-Mart gives to their and my home community, including the largest educational donation ever to my lovely University of Arkansas. Also being a share holder and active in the share holder meetings, he will be missed.

jon

 

[Lacero]

I don't want to turn this into a political issue, but after watching a 60 Minutes episode on Wal-Mart and India sweat shops, I could care less for Wal-Mart or their greedy founders.

All the money in the world is useless if you're dead. I hope Wal-Mart becomes a responsible, steward of the Earth resources and treat all their workers with respect and decency.

 

[StarbucksSam]

All the money in the world is useless if you're dead. I hope Wal-Mart becomes a responsible, steward of the Earth resources and treat all their workers with respect and decency.

In a perfect world. But I like the vision of innocence.

 

[ham_man]

Walton served in Vietnam as a combat medic with the Army's elite Special Forces, winning the Silver Star for saving lives under fire, according to a statement from the Bentonville, Arkansas-based company.

He also sat on the board of the Walton Family Foundation, the family's philanthropic enterprise. The foundation supports the establishment of charter schools, offers scholarships for children to attend private schools and lobbies for education reform in Arkansas schools.

He was a good man who will be sorely missed...

 

[iJon]

I don't want to turn this into a political issue, but after watching a 60 Minutes episode on Wal-Mart and India sweat shops, I could care less for Wal-Mart or their greedy founders.

All the money in the world is useless if you're dead. I hope Wal-Mart becomes a responsible, steward of the Earth resources and treat all their workers with respect and decency.

True, but after been to Egypt and India I can hardly single out just Wal-Mart.

jon

 

[chatin]

Don't buy a computer there!!!

True, but after been to Egypt and India I can hardly single out just Wal-Mart.

jon

Sounds like another JFK Jr. A sad day for Wal-mart. Very little family left in Wal-mart anymore.

Wal-mart is proof that, you can't be all things to all people. The technology strategy is right out of the Sears Robuck playbook, from the 1970's. Put a few of these new fangled things out on the end-caps and wait for the returns!

 

[Xtremehkr]

Bad Karma, he may have done some good here and there, but overall the Waltons have made a lot more people worse off. People die everyday, this isn't all that monumental.


You would wonder why famous people like to fly though, it seems to end badly for a disproportionate number of them.


.

 

[mxpiazza]

i was just about to say i was suprised this hadn't made bigger news, but now it's the headline on every news site and TV station...

sad day for anyone who lost a son/father/husband, etc... but he made his money just as much through exploitation and sweatshops as he did hard work, so if anyone mourns him anymore just because he is a rich Walton, and all anyone remembers him for is his money, then i dunno... just seems sad to me.

 

[iriejedi]

Every Day Low Prices, Everyday!

Bad Karma, he may have done some good here and there, but overall the Waltons have made a lot more people worse off. People die everyday, this isn't all that monumental.


You would wonder why famous people like to fly though, it seems to end badly for a disproportionate number of them.


.

Great slogan and mission statement, EDLP,E.... but when it comes to buying planes... I would NOT have used my employee discount. Just my opinion. I hope some of his life insurance money is given out as bonuses to all the hard working employees he has exploited over the years - including those of oppressed suppliers!

IJ

PS - I have a relative who falls into that class I have the right to dis this guy!

 

[calyxman]

Wow you people are nice. Maybe you should all chip in and write his eulogy.

 

[gwuMACaddict]

good grief... a man just died, someone who served our country... seems to me that if you don't have anything nice to say, you shouldn't say it.

go clog up the political threads...

 

[Hoef]

Seems that a lot of rich dudes die this way ... (kennedy, john denver, etc..)

 

[Chaszmyr]

Seems that a lot of rich dudes die this way ... (kennedy, john denver, etc..)

Guess you're better off if you can't afford your own aircraft

 

[pinto32]

good grief... a man just died, someone who served our country... seems to me that if you don't have anything nice to say, you shouldn't say it.

go clog up the political threads...

We realize a man has died, and his family is at a lose. Its just hard to get choked up over a man who was, well...evil. He and his family have made the lives of millions upon millions of people miserable. When you keep that in mind, its easy to ignore the few PR stunts....errr...I mean...good deeds.

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

We realize a man has died, and his family is at a lose. Its just hard to get choked up over a man who was, well...evil. He and his family have made the lives of millions upon millions of people miserable. When you keep that in mind, its easy to ignore the few PR stunts....errr...I mean...good deeds.

Serving in vietnam and earning the silver star? meanwhile George and Dick managed to avoid the very war he served in. 1 a hero the other 2 Chickenhawks.

 

[Chaszmyr]

We realize a man has died, and his family is at a lose. Its just hard to get choked up over a man who was, well...evil. He and his family have made the lives of millions upon millions of people miserable. When you keep that in mind, its easy to ignore the few PR stunts....errr...I mean...good deeds.

I'm not gonna take either side here, cuz I am simply not adequately informed.. But I fail to see how exactly he or his family are responsible for making millions of people miserable.. Please explain.

 

[topgunn]

I'm not gonna take either side here, cuz I am simply not adequately informed.. But I fail to see how exactly he or his family are responsible for making millions of people miserable.. Please explain.

Yes, I would like to know as well. I must not be up to speed on the whole story.

 

[stubeeef]

You would wonder why famous people like to fly though, it seems to end badly for a disproportionate number of them.

It seems to me that people who find themselves successful in one thing often believe in themselves so much, that they think they can be successful in everything (well almost).

The everyday equivalent, to the belief that some have, that if a highschool dropout can do the plumbing, so can I.

There is one line of single, piston engine aircraft, made by Beechcraft, called a Bonanza. It is considered the Cadillac of single piston planes. It has a twin engine version called a Baron. The Baron was usually bought by the well to do Dr's. It's nick name is the Dr Killer. Dr's get their heads so full of their greatness that they forget their mortality sometimes (not all of course).

Two famous aviation quotes....

In flying I have learned that carelessness and overconfidence are usually far more dangerous than deliberately accepted risks.

— Wilbur Wright in a letter to his father, September 1900.

Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity or neglect.

There are plenty of successful, fabulous aviators (not john travolta either) like Sir Richard Branson, to name one. Like alot of things it demands respect and attention, as a recreation it is very dangerous if not given both.

 

[OnceUGoMac]

I don't want to turn this into a political issue, but after watching a 60 Minutes episode on Wal-Mart and India sweat shops, I could care less for Wal-Mart or their greedy founders.

First, it's "couldn't care less". Second, Sam and his son have nothing to do with the current state of Wal-Mart. That's like blaming Walt Disney for Eisner's actions.

 

[~Shard~]

Regardless of his wealth, power, position, or what he has done for others (good or bad), the simple fact is that a man has died - he was someone's son, someone's father, someone's brother - and he will be missed by those that loved him. The loss of human life is never a good thing, no matter who it is or what the circumstance.

 

[IJ Reilly]

He was flying an ultralight, btw -- which by definition isn't really an airplane. It's essentially a hang-glider with an engine. Flying one doesn't even require a private pilot's license. I'm sure Walton could have afforded something much more expensive. Presumably, he didn't have the license.

Incidentally, unlike real airplanes, ultralights are notorious for structural failures. I'm guessing this was the cause in this case.

And finally, you don't have to be rich to own an airplane. I own one, and I'm not rich. Well, maybe I would be lot richer if I didn't own the airplane... but that's another story. Right stu?

 

[Inspector Lee]

Calling all pilots...

Anybody out there actually flown a plane into or out of Jackson Hole or know anybody who has? In even remotely inclement weather it has to be a hairy flight, I mean, the Tetons are nestled right up against the west side of the runway.

 

[stubeeef]

Not there, I have heard it is a white knuckler, especially in bad weather or with an engine out.

Been in and out of Eagle (Vail), Bogata, Quito, Medellin, Cali, and a few other nasty spots.

 

[Xtremehkr]

Eventually Stu, it seems to go to their heads in all aspects of their lives. Look at Tom Cruise, he's gonna save the world with Scientology.

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On a separate note, when this information was released to the media and made into a public issue, there is going to be some discussion of the mans life and what he did with it. A silver star is admirable but separate from what he did outside of the military. And it is not exactly a private matter anymore.

 

[wdlove]

Hearing the name John Walton reminds me of one of my favorite TV show's, "The Walton's" The simple life and how a family dealt with the depression and up through and past World War II.

Being that John was a medic in Vietnam brings him close to my beloved profession. He's also close to my age. I'm sure that as iJon said a lot of good things have been done. My prayers go out to his family and friends.