LANGENKAMP -- Arthur Burbank, died on February 13, 2005 in Tulsa, OK. Art was born January 26, 1919, in an oil camp in Drumright, OK, then one of Oklahoma's busiest oil boom-towns where his father was a Pipeline Engineer. He was the seventh of 9 children born to Fred and Martha Hazel Morrison Langenkamp. Art spent his youth with his many brothers and sisters on the Langenkamp farm near Mingo northeast of Tulsa. He was from his earliest days an avid and expert horseman often riding his gaited mare "Robin" to the Mingo Public School as well as playing polo and riding regularly with the Mounted Troops of America. After graduating from Tulsa Central in 1937 (he danced with his classmate Jennifer Jones) he attended the Tulsa Business College before joining the US Army. He was assigned to the General Staff of the 7th Army at Casa Blanca, North Africa planning for the Normandy Invasion. He remained on the General Staff (General Patch) as the 7th Army made an uncontested landing in Southern France and proceeded to Germany (referred to as the "Champagne Campaign"), where his unit liberated the famous Lipizzaner stallions shortly before the surrender. Although the unit had been issued 3000 tents they were never used as they were always able to liberate a Chateau for quarters. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his services in the invasion planning and aftermath. After demobilization as a Master Sgt. Arthur joined the newly created US Army Air Force in 1946 where he was assigned to Special Duty with the US State Department. In this capacity he had extended tours of duty in Tokyo, Japan, Cairo, Egypt, Karachi, Pakistan and Ankara, Turkey. After resignation from the USAF in 1960, Arthur moved to Aspen, Colorado, a newly established ski resort. There he established "Arthur's," a popular restaurant on Main Street for the hard core skiers and Aspen regulars. As the owner, designer, builder, proprietor and chef of Arthur's, he became one of Aspen's most well-known and colorful figures. His menus were collectors items, with his artwork and comments such as "We reserve the right to serve refuse" and "Fine Dining - No Pool." The blue berry pancakes were said by regulars, Lucy and Desi Arnaz, to be the "best in the world," but close observers noticed a lot of discarded pancake mix boxes out back. His departure from Colorado and retirement to Arizona in 1978 upon the sale of his restaurant was said by many to have marked the end of the old original Aspen, where gravel streets and famous skiers were more common than Cadillac SUVs and Saudi Princes. Well known for his conviviality and party throwing Art had a multitude of friends in Aspen and around the US. He is survived by: brother, Quinn Langenkamp of Loxahatchee, FL; sister, Hazel Martha Roeyer of West Plains, MO; and 21 cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his mother, father, 6 brothers and 1 sister. His friends are contributing to the Disabled American Veterans. Services are pending.
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