Fatal crash at Dallas air show: commemorating crew member Kevin Michels
Michels had moved to Austin after moving from Colorado and had only been back in the area a few months.
DALLAS — One of the six men killed in a plane crash at a Dallas air show over the weekend lived and worked in central Texas.
Kevin Michels, 53, was a crew member on the B-17 Flying Fortress when the two planes crashed on Saturday November 12.
Michels is originally from the Denver, Colorado area. Relatives say he graduated from Golden High School in Lakewood, Colorado in 1987 and was on the wrestling team.
Michels moved to Austin in 2001. A few years later he moved back to Colorado. But according to Scott Reed, his dear friend of 21 years, Michel’s heart led him back to central Texas. Michels had just switched to Leander.
“We just had her retirement party here in Denver a few months ago,” Reed said. “Too bad he couldn’t enjoy Austin a little more.”
Michels had come out of retirement when he moved back to the Austin area a few months ago. Applied Materials in Austin confirmed that Michels was an employee of the company and told KVUE:
“Applied Materials is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of our Austin employees and dedicated Commemorative Air Force (CAF) volunteer, Kevin Michels. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”
Reed and Michels met in 2001 when Reed was in charge of the Denver Broncos in Austin club. A passionate fan of the football team, Michels entered a bar where Reed was hosting the club and was looking for a place to watch a game. The rest is history, Reed said.
“As much as I think he’s my best friend in the whole world, almost every guy I know says that about him,” Reed said.
“He was just one of those people. [Michels] I just walked in and started watching with us and yelling at the Broncos with us,” Reed said. “He’s always been like that with people. Big human.”
Reed said Michels was survived by a common law wife, Paula, and their son, Dylan, whom Michels adopted as his own. Reed calls Michel a family man who loved the two very much.
“In my opinion, two of his greatest accomplishments,” Reed said, “are taking care of this wonderful woman and helping raise this fine child.”
Michels and Reed shared many close friends but said they lost one of them, George Yudovitz, a few years ago. Reed said he was comforted to know that Michels not only died doing what he loved, but also to know that he is dating Yudovitz. They affectionately called him Georgey.
“I would say so [Michels] to hug Georgy for me. Because I know they’re both in a better place,” Reed said through tears. “I know he’s in a better place.”
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https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/kevin-michels-dallas-air-show-crash/269-a539b1ad-dfe7-417f-8f13-697fbf28518d Fatal crash at Dallas air show: commemorating crew member Kevin Michels
