This beautiful story is not just a Feel-Good, but a Father's Day extra. It embodies a child following in their father's footsteps, a celebration of their father's years of service and commitment to integrity, and that child witnessing it for their entire life and wanting to have that legacy emulated in their own.
Legacy and family values are the subject of this week's Feel-Good Friday.
On Father's Day, Captain Jim Curtis flew his last leg with Southwest Airlines. It was his 65th birthday, and according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, the mandatory retirement age for all airline pilots is 65. So, the day marked TWO major milestones in his life.
Capt. Curtis has been a pilot for 43 years, 21 of those in the United States Air Force. Upon his discharge from the military, Curtis joined Southwest Airlines and has flown commercially with the airline for 22 years. Curtis has amassed over 18,000 hours of flight time, an accomplishment in and of itself.
Southwest Airlines highlighted the emotional landmark in a Father's Day Instagram post on Sunday, June 21, calling it "one special sendoff for one special dad".
The airline then confirmed that Jim flew his final route from Las Vegas to Oakland, California, with First Officer Julia Curtis seated beside him.
First Officer Julia Curtis got on the flight intercom to honor Capt. Curtis. Here's what she said:
"I'm really honored to be his first officer today because Captain Curtis has been a mentor for me my entire life. He inspired me to be a pilot," she added. "He also helped teach me how to walk, how to talk, how to ride a bike, how to throw a baseball, how to drive a car and probably most importantly, he taught me how to carry myself with humility, kindness and integrity both in and out of work."
"Getting to fly with him is a dream come true and something that we're going to remember for the rest of our lives," she concluded.
How precious is that? I would have been a bucket of tears, but both Curtises were composed and smiling. Their story is not only a testament to family values and leaving behind a legacy, but it is an example of passing the torch to the next generation and, in the case of the Curtises, literally giving them wings to fly. So very cool.
More Dad Love: Feel-Good Friday: High School Grad Is Surprised by His Active-Duty USAF Dad Greeting Him on Stage
Malcolm's Memories: The Joy of My Father's Joy
WATCH:
Capt. Curtis even received a mention from Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy.
Moments like this remind us why we love TRAVEL ✈️ @SouthwestAir Captain Jim shared his final flight before retirement in the cockpit with his daughter, First Officer Julia.
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) June 23, 2026
Captain Jim’s been flying for 43 years, has over 18,000 hours of fight time, and was in the Air Force… pic.twitter.com/yvl61iCTkp
Moments like this remind us why we love TRAVEL ✈️
@SouthwestAir Captain Jim shared his final flight before retirement in the cockpit with his daughter, First Officer Julia.
Captain Jim’s been flying for 43 years, has over 18,000 hours of fight time, and was in the Air Force for 21 years
This is what inspiring the next generation of aviation is all about 👏
It's all about inspiring the next generation, period. Capt. Jim Curtis and First Officer Julia Curtis have succeeded in that assignment.
Editor's Note: At RedState, it's not all about politics and policy. We like to bring attention to what's good in the world, with columns like "Feel-Good Friday," "Start Your Weekend Right," and "Hoge's Heroes."
Support our work! Join RedState VIP and use the promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your VIP membership!
Join the conversation as a VIP Member