Mon, Feb 16, 2009
All Are Georgia Natives Who Have Made Their State Proud
An induction ceremony held Saturday
at the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame, located near Warner-Robins at
Robins Air Force Base, paid honor to five individuals who each made
significant contributions to aviation as Georgians and/or in the
state of Georgia.
The Macon Sun News reports the five inductees include two
aviation pioneers, a famous aviation artist, and a husband and wife
who were airline pilots:
- Lt. Col. Bert M. Atkinson of Newnan, GA was an early military
pilot, serving in Gen. John J. Pershing's trek to Mexico in 1916
after the legendary Pancho Villa. In WWI, Atkinson served in France
with Gen. Billy Mitchell. Following the war, he commanded Mather
Field in Sacramento, CA and served as assistant adjutant general of
Florida. Atkinson received the French Legion of Honor and the
Belgium War Cross.
- Lt. Col. Earnest A. Shelton of Columbus, GA learned to fly with
barn-stormers in Colorado. He served in the Missouri National Guard
and as an infantry officer during World War II. Shelton became a
flight instructor after retiring from the military, and is credited
with teaching more than 500 people to fly.
- Artist and pilot Samuel A. Lyons from Woodstock, GA took up
painting airplanes in 1985. His works are now on display at the
Pentagon, Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, National Museum of the
US Air Force, Air Force Academy and the Navy's Blue Angels
Headquarters.
- Ed and Connie Bowlin are career pilots with more than 30 years
each in aviation. Ed became employed by Delta Air Lines after
flying for 15 years in the Tennessee Air National Guard. He met his
wife Connie at Delta, serving as a flight attendant. She went on to
become a Delta pilot in 1974, only the fourth female pilot in
company history. The pair have worked a total of 67 years for
Delta, and are still active in pilot and safety training.
"The Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame was founded on April 19,
1989, when Governor Joe Frank Harris signed into law the
authorization for the establishment of the state's Aviation Hall of
Fame in the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base. Located
just 10 miles from I-75 in Warner Robins, GA, the museum is
situated on a beautiful 51-acre site and includes over 90
historical aircraft in its collection," the museum's website
explains.
"It is the mission of the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame to
promote and encourage the growth and public support of aviation
within the state of Georgia by honoring aviation leaders, living
and dead, whose extraordinary achievements or services have made
outstanding and lasting contributions to aviation, perpetuating the
memory of such persons and recording their contributions and
achievements through suitable memorials."
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