23 March 2009

JEDDAH: Wartime pilot, commercial pilot, jeweler, and now centenarian, Capt. Jose (Joe) Grant was awarded the King Abdul Aziz Medal-First Class on behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington at the end of January.

“Mr. Grant’s contributions to helping foster Saudi-US relations are deeply appreciated to this day,” said Ambassador Adel Al-Jubair at the presentation ceremony.

“We are pleased to honor such a long-standing friend and wish him happiness and continued good health,” he said.

Grant, who will turn 101 tomorrow, flew a Douglas-DC3 aircraft to Saudi Arabia to be delivered as a gift to King Abdul Aziz from President Franklin D. Roosevelt following their historic meeting onboard the USS Quincy on Feb. 14, 1945.

He then served two years as the first airline pilot to King Abdul Aziz. Grant was also instrumental in the establishment of Saudi Arabia’s first national airline and the training of its first pilots.

Jim Bleth, a close friend of Grant’s, commented to Arab News: “Joe is a wonderful human being who will be 101 years old on March 24. His greatest ambition right now is to celebrate his accomplishment in the country he loves, Saudi Arabia.”

Mike Saba, a frequent visitor to Saudi Arabia, and Grant have co-authored a book on Grant’s experiences in the Kingdom and in particular with King Abdul Aziz and their joint experiences on bringing commercial aviation into the Kingdom. The book includes many previously unpublished photos taken while Grant was working in Saudi Arabia from 1945 to 1947.

Once he is a published author, Grant plans to go on the speaking circuit across the US to promote the book and simultaneously improve US-Saudi relations. Part of the profits from that book will be donated to the betterment of US-Saudi relations.

A jeweler of high repute for many decades, Grant has two ambitions: To revisit the Kingdom that had such an impact on him 60 years ago and to search out a commercial partner to develop future business.

He has no plans to slow down, even at his grand age. When last he was in the Kingdom in December 2006 to revisit the DC3 he flew 60 years ago and which had been fully restored to flying condition, he told Arab News how he kept up his formidable momentum: “You gotta have a couple of dreams on the horizon and just go for ’em!”