Class Of 2007 Includes Balloonist, 99, Observer Pilot

The Texas Aviation Hall of Fame told ANN Wednesday of its inductees of the Class of 2007, honoring Texans and Texas corporations that have made outstanding contributions to the development, growth, or preservation of aviation.

The inductees of the Class of 2007 are:

• Dr. William E. Bussey -- Dr. Bussey, a renowned hot-air balloon pilot, is holder of 14 World Records and 30 U.S. National Records for distance and duration in balloons of various sizes. He has won 35 major balloon competitions and is a founding member and director of the North American Ballooning Association. Bussey is the recipient of many of prestigious honors for balloonists including the Montgolfier Diploma and the Shields-Trauger Award.
• Ms. Pauline Glasson -- Pauline Glasson soloed in a seaplane in 1934 and enjoyed a 67-year flying career accumulating over 60,000 hours of flight time primarily as a flight instructor. A fixture of Corpus Christi aviation since 1941, Pauline is known for her passion for teaching. She is a founding member of the Women’s Air Race Classic and continues to serve the race in various capacities. An early member of the Ninety-Nines, Pauline earned an impressive variety of FAA ratings and has flown as a test pilot, crop duster, sky writer and air ambulance pilot.
• Maj. James R. Stegall, US Army, Ret. -- Major James Stegall flew the L-4 Grasshopper in WWII and the Korean War as an artillery observer. His first combat experience began on the beaches of Salerno, Italy and continued into the Liri Valley where he earned his first Silver Star after an encounter with a German Me-109. In Korea, he fought with the 7th Division from Inchon to Iwon and participated in the push to the Yalu River. He then retreated to Hamhung where he flew missions out of the Chosin Reservoir before crash landing near Koto-ri. During his military service he earned the Silver Star with cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross with cluster, the Air Medal with twenty five clusters, Army Commendation Ribbon and a host of other service medals and citations.

The Texas Aviation Hall of Fame is known as one of the country’s leading museums of its type. More than a picture and a biography, the exhibits in the Hall of Fame utilize personal artifacts, books, models, awards and other memorabilia to accurately portray each inductee’s contributions, experiences and passion for aviation.

In addition to being honored at the 9th Annual Texas Aviation Hall of Fame Induction Gala on Saturday, November 10, the Class of 2007 will be recognized on Sunday, November 11 at the Lone Star Flight Museum's end-of-season Fly Day. This informal flying event will feature historic aircraft from the Lone Star Flight Museum’s collection and other aircraft from the local area.

The Texas Aviation Hall of Fame is located on Galveston’s west end, adjacent to Moody Gardens and the Schlitterbahn Waterpark at the Galveston International Airport.

FMI: www.lsfm.org