Maurice Graham Monument in Springdale, Utah

Maurice "Maury" Graham was a decorated World War I combat pilot whose skill was highly regarded by his peers. Like many other veteran pilots from the Great War, he became an airmail pilot in the fledgling days of airmail service. The conditions weren't much improvement over combat, flying with an open cockpit in all weather with only rudimentary navigation equipment.

Graham helped pioneer the airmail route from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City, and when he missed his check-in point at Cedar City, Utah, on the night of January 10, 1930, no one at first was too worried even though a horrific winter storm was raging.

However, concern mounted as his flight became ever-more overdue, but a frantic search under appalling conditions turned up nothing. His plane wasn't found until late the following spring after the snow had largely melted.

In a tribute to his piloting skills, Graham had managed to make a near-perfect emergency landing in a howling blizzard atop Kanarra Mountain. He then locked up the mail bags in the plane, except for the high-value securities mailbag which he took with him as he headed out into the blizzard. His body was found about six miles away, with the securities bag still clutched under his arm.