Colorado Springs, Colo., October, 9 2002...Every five years Holland & Hart partners are asked to make a tough decision - What will I do with my three month sabbatical? Partners must decide do I take the grand tour of Europe, write a book, bicycle around Washington State's San Juan Islands, or read a stack of books on my back deck? For partner David Prince this was an easy decision - and the sky was the limit.
David Prince has always dreamed of barnstorming across the country in his open cockpit biplane reminiscent of the Great Waldo Pepper - this summer his dream came true. After a day of delay for bad weather, David pointed his 1940 Stearman east and took off with no more defined plan than an openness to adventure and a vague plan to make the aviator's pilgrimage to Kitty Hawk, NC, the site of the Wright brothers' first successful flights. Along the way he battled winds, rain, lightning, more rain, a power outage, post 9/11 flight restrictions, and even more rain. During his month long exploration, David picked up his teenage nephew for a few days of the trip in Mississippi and visited friends, family and historical landmarks across the country while giving dozens of rides. Limited by weather and fuel (the plane can only fly an hour and a half at a time), David was able to visit 18 states and nearly 50 small airports and landing strips across the country ranging from a large commuter airport outside of Washington, D.C. to the front lawn of a replica of the Tara mansion from Gone with the Wind in North Carolina.
"The best parts of the trip were the people I met along the way. I can't count the number of people who did so much to make me feel welcome on my journey. People went out of their way to be helpful and then invited me into their lives, sharing with me their tales, treasures and plans. Given the times, it was invigorating to see firsthand the wealth of genuine warmth, optimism, and ingenuity in the American character. Getting intercepted by a helicopter gunship was something I won't soon forget either." David explains, "it was a once in a lifetime trip that I hope to bore my grandchildren with someday."
For more information, about David Prince or others sabbaticals at Holland & Hart, contact Jen Friedman at jfriedman@ hollandhart.com