James M. Eaton, 1910

Our brothers careers have been productive, constructive, spirited, and prosaic. They displayed impressive skills, talents, and abilities They were, and we continue to be, a beautiful and lively expression of our enduring fraternal beliefs, and that underlying harmony is far-reaching in expectation for all brothers’, undergraduate and graduate. It is the core of what our fraternal founders asserted in 1848 and 1874 and 1899: to live active, commendable, and responsible lives, and to build up community. Clearly and compellingly, they added, and continue to add, positive value at the local, state, national, global, and fraternal level because they engaged life fully and responsibly. In short, they were authoritative pillars throughout life. They were-are exemplary in their citizenship, character, and their sense of dutiful responsibility, and, in many instances, they were leading voices in their career fields. They prove that success of any kind does not occur by luck or accident, and we remember them because they continue to provide that message for our time. Their spirit permeates our brotherhood, and it always will. 

We have long been, from one generation to the next, proud to be Omega Mu Fijis. We continue to cherish our fraternal friendships, our shared memories, and our evolving, forward-focused history at the University of Maine. These things, above and beyond everything else, are the underlying rooted connections that make us proud to be Omega Mu Fijis. Why, after all, should we believe otherwise? We have always exhibited a can-do fraternal spirit since 1874. And, to be sure, all present and future generations of Omega Mu Fijis will continue to do the same, with fraternal enthusiasm and commitment. As a brotherhood, we always see the path behind us and the way forward with equal clarity, and our future remains bright at 79 College Avenue because we fearlessly move forward, always guided by sound fraternal principles, and because of that we are an exceptional brotherhood because we remain committed and hardworking to assure that our Omega Mu brotherhood will continue to be the jewel at the University of Maine. Perge.

Omega Mu Portrait
James M. Eaton,
1910

Omega Mu Years

University Of Maine Chapel

Lyricist

"Words by J. M. Eaton"

After graduating from the University of Maine, James M. Eaton was hired by Stone and Webster, an engineering firm in Boston. During World War I, the purchasing department that he was in charge of at Stone and Webster was commissioned by the United States government to purchase and distribute ordinance materials to the A.E.F. fighting in Europe. After the war, he returned to France to study the feasibility of using wartime planes for airline passenger service, and he concluded
​that it would be unfeasible. 

Commercial Airline
​Pioneer

"Calais Boy, U. of M. Graduate Making America Air-Minded."

"And then along came James Murchie Eaton....organizer of the most sophisticated travel service in the world."

"And then along came James Murchie Eaton and other men of his calibre, but particularly J. M. Eaton. Thanks to such men, travel by air is an accepted fact.....The traveling public is being shown system after system, and among the pioneering missionaries in this cause, the General Traffic Manager of Pan-American Airways, Inc, is probably the
​grand sachem of the all."

First Scheduled Airline Service:
Tampa and St. Petersburg,
1914

Pan-American Airways

James Eaton was the Traffic Manager of Pan-American Airways from 1928-1931.

Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh

During the early years Pan-American Airlines, James M. Eaton often flew to various countries in Central and South America, and on one of his trips he flew with Charles Lindbergh around Mexico during Lindbergh's aerial tour over several countries in Central America in 1929. 

"To Mr. J. M. Eaton and Mr. R. I. Dunten of Pan American Airways Company and their assistants for their extraordinary
​helpfulness throughout..."

Ludington Airlines

In 1931 James Eaton was chosen to become the president of Ludington Airlines.

"The speeding up of the Ludington equipment was one of the first official acts of President James M. Eaton."

Marine Airlines, Inc.

After Ludington Airlines was sold to Eastern Airlines, James M. Eaton was chosen to become the president of Marine Airlines, Inc.. Marine Airlines used large seaplanes to provide passenger service between
​New York and Boston.

Marine Airlines used very large Sikorsky seaplanes.

American Overseas Airline

James M. Eaton left Ludington Airlines to become the vice president of American Oversees Airline, which was the flying branch
​of American Export Lines. 

"James M. Eaton is responsible for organizing what is called the most sophisticated
​air service in the world."

"Thus, truly, in the Business and the Aviation Halls of Fame the name James M. Eaton rightfully ranks at
​the top."

"Once he has determined on a course of action he goes through with it, with the steadfastness that is characteristic of the rock-ribbed coast of Maine from which he hails -set in his ways. But we do know also that, appropriately enough, his ancestors for four generations have built and operated vessels which carried goods and passengers from Maine down to Buenos Aires and beyond."

Time Magazine

"Time magazine in its section entitled "Milestones" carried an item about Mr. Eaton's death - A tribute to his far reaching influence in the public life
​of the country."

Our Omega Mu brother
And
"Maine's leading commercial airline alumnus".

“What if the space be long and wide,
That parts us from our brother’s side
A soul-joined chain unites our band,
And memory links us hand in hand.”
(Phi Gamma Delta fraternity song)

Fraternally,
Chip Chapman, ’82
Perge