Larsen Comes in for a Landing

TACOMA, Wash – Community Credit Union CEO Don Larsen has come in for a landing. Larsen discovered his passion for flying in the mid-1960s when he used to fly with a bush pilot in Alaska. His interest soon went beyond getting his pilot’s license to building an experimental plane. In all, Larsen has owned four planes. “Flying float planes is particularly fun,” he said of the boats that land either on solid ground or on the water. He said he enjoyed going out fishing where no one else can reach. Larsen said he had had a few nerve racking experiences in the friendly skies. “I’ve never been scared…anxious a couple of times maybe,” he said. However, Larsen has not had the time in the last few years to devote to flying and his modes of transportation remain on the ground despite their souped- up engines. Larsen is a founder of the Kingsman, a car club. Currently, he has in his garage a 1937 Chevy two-door sedan with a 350 cubic inch V8 engine, automatic transmission, and air conditioning. And in his garage is where it stays lest the cherry paint job gets ruined except on the rare Sunday when the weather is perfect. While Larsen enjoys his present street rod, he admits his favorite one that he has owned was a red and white 1955 Chevy two-door called “el Santo” (The Saint) which had a built up four speed. In his younger days during the 1970s, Larsen added, he had been involved with a group that ran mud races and drag races. “I’m into speed,” he said. “Speed and noise.” -