Little League® International remembers Al Haynes, a Little League West Region volunteer and umpire for 30 years, who officiated games in the 1978 Little League® Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pa. He was 87.
Mr. Haynes, a native of Paris, Texas, and resident of Seattle at the time of his death, was thrust into the public spotlight on July 19, 1989. As captain of United Airlines Flight 232 bound from Denver to Chicago, Mr. Haynes’ DC-10 suffered a catastrophic failure of its tail-mounted engine, which resulted in the loss of many flight controls. He piloted the crippled jumbo jet to an emergency landing at Sioux (Iowa) Gateway Airport, helping save the lives of 184 passengers and crew.
A graduate of Texas A&M University, Mr. Haynes entered the Naval Aviation Cadet Training program in 1952. He served four years as a Marine aviator and flight instructor. Mr. Haynes joined United Airlines in 1956, and was as a flight engineer, first officer, and captain for 35 years until he retired in 1991.
A Little League Baseball umpire for more than 33 years, Mr. Haynes was also a stadium announcer and scorekeeper at the West Region Tournament for 25 years. A biography at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum recounts Mr. Haynes’ life story.
Survived by his daughter, Laurie; Mr. Haynes was predeceased by his wife of 40 years, Darline; and son, Tony.