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AIRBOAT LEGEND PASSES

Southern Airboat Gallery Archives

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Silent Prop
R. I. P.
I just copied this from an email I received. JAMES COMBEE has passed away.

TO ALL YOU AIRBOATERS, THE ORIGINAL AIRBOAT GREAT HAS PASSED AWAY.

HE DIED LAST NIGHT.........WE ARE PRAYING FOR RICHARD AND JAMES' FAMILY. SERVICES WILL BE ANNOUNCED. YOU MIGHT LOOK IN THE LAKELAND LEDGER FOR INFO OR CONTACT RICHARD AT COMBEE BOATS IN WINTER HAVEN

HE WAS OUR INSPIRATION FOR THIS GREAT THING WE CALL AIRBOATS.......HE WILL BE MISSED.

WE ALL OWE HIM A BIG THANK YOU AND FAREWELL..........

PLEASE LET HIS FAMILY KNOW HOW MUCH HE MEANT TO US ALL....

FAREWELL, AND SMOOTH SAILING JAMES!!!! :( :( :(


He will be missed dearly I had many conversations with him over the years and always found him to be a gentleman and a scholar of life.

SLIDE SMOOTHLY .. Mr. Combee You will be missed
 
Could you send me an address where to send flowers, I knew James and did business with him for many years. He was a man of his word, always! Thanks for the notice
 
Spent some of my first few hour's airboating in a combee and those are very fond memories. my deepest symphathies go with the combee family all are ride's are better today because of these pioneer's and he will be missed
 
Cntry,

Also sorry to hear of this loss to the airboating community. Anyone that has put that much into the airboating community has my utmost respect for the hard work to propell the industry.

My condolences and prayers go out to the family and friends.

Basketcase
 
Since I'm new to airboating I never had the honor to meet the man personally. But as I learn of him now, I look forward to meeting him through the memories & stories of those who did know him.

Thank you Mr. Combee.

matt.
 
Very well said Matt, I too did not know him personally but have heard stories and I am sure there are more stories to come. God be with family and friends as they go through this hard time.
 
He will be missed by me. Everytime I would make it to Lakeland Florida I would stop at the shop while he was in business. I have not seen him for a few years. He was always glad to see me and had lots to tell m. when I stopped he would ask if I had any of my vintage airboat photos with me, he liked to look at them. He always did his best to help me out if I needed something. He also built the airboats used in the old movie from the 70s "SOGGY BOTTOM USA" The one boat did quite a stunt. It was ramped several feet into the air It was pretty cool! He used to have the stunt photos from the movie hanging on his wall. My prayers are with him and his family. I will miss him.

Mike
 
Soggy Bottom was a cool movie with Ben and Don Johnson and some others. Id love to find a copy somewhere.

Legends are what made the sport what it is today, we owe them much.

Scotty
 
I bought a copy of the movie today on E-bay today so I can check it out.


Wonder what kind of Airboat he is driving in Heaven.
 
Could not have said it better Mood.I never had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Combee but learned how on a combee :) My prayers are with the family in this sad time.
 
Thanks for the tip Nebraska ! I just bought the DVD from Amazon. Now I will always think of Mr. Combee when I see the jump scene

Scotty
 
As always, a great leader breaking a new path that we hope we can follow.
You have our deepest symphathies , and will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely, Cajun
 
We'd like to send a flower arrangement from all the members of Southern Airboat so if anyone has any information about arrangements, please let us know.

Rick
 
My very first airboat ride was on a Combee. Prayers comin from the Bubba house.

Soggy Bottom have it on VHS its been watched 1000 times or more. Still like that movie
 
From the Ledger Obituaries:

James Combee, 75, Combee Airboats

By Rhonda Gentle
The Ledger

AUBURNDALE -- What started off as sort of a hobby for Mr. James W. Combee Jr. expanded into a worldwide airboat manufacturing company.

The retired owner of Combee Airboats in Lake Hamilton died of a heart attack Monday (March 13, 2006) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. He was 75.

"He has boats all over this country and a lot of them in foreign countries," his wife of 54 years, Carolyn Combee, said.

Mr. Combee was at least a third generation native of Polk County and was born in Lakeland on May 24, 1930. He attended Inwood Elementary School and Winter Haven High School. After his father suffered a heart attack, Mr. Combee took over Combee's Grocery Store and Gas Station, operating the business from 1948 to 1964.

Mr. Combee was a longtime seaplane pilot and certified to work on engines. In 1978, he started Combee Airboats in Lake Hamilton.

"He started it as a hobby, and our son decided to go into it with him. They assembled the boats and sold them," Carolyn Combee said. "He and my son went around and they were always so nice to people they had a lot of repeat business."

Mr. Combee semi-retired after having heart surgery in 1996.

He attended Victory Assembly of God Church in Lakeland.

In addition to his wife, Carolyn Combee, Mr. Combee is survived by his daughter, Catherine L. Combee, Auburndale; sons, James W. Combee III, Tampa, Richard M. Combee, Bruce R. Combee, both of Winter Haven; six grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday and 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at MitchellDinan Funeral Home. Services will follow at 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home chapel.
 
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