Aviation Concepts, K-C Aviation Founder Emery Dies

William Ralph Emery, a pioneer in corporate aircraft completions, died August 7 at the age of 73. Emery, born Nov. 5, 1941, in Dallas, began working at his father’s company, Executive Aircraft Service, which was a division of Cooper Airmotive (now Aviall). In 1977, he teamed with his brother Richard to help found K-C Aviation, which expanded into completions programs, including the Canadair Challenger, McDonald Douglas DC-9 and Gulfstream IV. K-C Aviation ultimately was acquired by Gulfstream. He later joined Jack Prewitt & Associates before founding corporate aircraft interior and refurbishment specialist Aviation Concepts in 1990. Emery recently had retired and moved to Rogers, Ark.