Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame

The Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame recognizes aviation pioneers and contributors associated with the state of Georgia. The museum was created in 1989 by Governor Joe Frank Harris signing House Bill 110. The law called for a 15-member board to oversee the hall of fame, and for it to be housed at the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base.^[1]

Candidates may be living or deceased, but must have been born in Georgia, lived in Georgia for at least four years, or made their contribution to aviation or aerospace in Georgia.^[2] The first class of seven was inducted at a banquet on August 26, 1989.^[3] A second group of seven was inducted at Robins on May 18, 1991^[4] and a third class of five was inducted on November 7, 1992.^[5] Additional inductions have continued into 2025, with the hall of fame now containing 133 individuals.

Inductees

Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame

Name	Image	Birth–Death	Year	Area of achievement	Ref(s)
E. Porter Alexander		(1835–1910)	2006	Military engineer who pioneered using observation balloons during combat	[6]
Julius J. Alexander Jr.		(1937–)	2011	Educator of aviators	[7]
Ronald R "Ron" Alexander		(1942–2016)	2013	Civil aviation businessman, creator of the Candler Field Museum	[8][9]
Bert Atkinson		(1889–1937)	2009	World War I aviator	[10]
Fred P. Ayres		(1930–)	2002	Aircraft manufacturer Ayres Corporation founder	[11]
Brig. Gen. John C. Bahnsen		(1934–)	2016	Decorated Vietnam War veteran of the U.S. Army	[12]
Capt John M. Bailey		(1945–)	2015	U.S. Air Force	[13]
Capt. Francis Anderson Baker		(1906–1994)	2007		[14]
Samuel "Winn" Baker		(1936–2021)	2013	Delta Air Lines pilot	[15]
Capt. Thomas Prioleau "Pre" Ball		(1906–2006)	2005	Delta Air Lines pilot	[16][17]
Lt. Col. Winton H. Barron		(1906–1987)	2000		[18]
Elliot Gordon Zachary Bellah		(1906–1996)	2014	Aviator and skydiver	[19]
Forrest E. Boshears		(1913–1991)	2000		[20]
Willis "Buster" Boshears		(1909–1981)	2000		[21]
Willis M. Boshears Jr.		(1944–)	2015	U.S. Air Force	[22]
Connie Bowlin		(1950–)	2009	Civil aviation business	[23]
Ed Bowlin		(1935–2014)	2009	Civil aviation business	[24]
Janet Harmon Bragg		(1907–1993)	2022	First African-American woman to hold a commercial pilot license	[25]
Maj. Gen. Roy D. Bridges Jr.		(1943–)	1995	Former NASA astronaut and former Director of NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center and Langley Research Center	[26][27]
Elton Brooks Jr.		(1950–)	2017	Greenland Expedition Society, restorer of vintage military aircraft	[28]
2nd Lieutenant Eugene Jacques Bullard		(1894–1961)	1989	World War I aviator, the first African-American military pilot	[3][29]
Myrtle "Kay" Cagle		(1925–2020)	2003	Aviator, writer and member of Mercury 13 female astronauts group	[30]
Manley L. "Sonny" Carter Jr.		(1947–1991)	1992	NASA astronaut who flew on STS-33	[5][31]
Capt. Charles Cevor		(c. 1830–1910)	2006		[32]
Brig. Gen. Dan Cherry		(1939–)	2015	Vietnam War fighter pilot, author of "My Enemy…My Friend"	[33][34]
Gen. Lucius D. Clay		(1919–1994)	1997	U.S. Air Force officer who was commander-in-chief of the North American Air Defense Command, the Continental Air Defense Command, and was also a commander of Aerospace Defense Command (ADC)	[35]
Donnie L. Cochran		(1954–)	2022	First African-American aviator in the Blue Angels	[25]
Jacqueline "Jackie" Cochran		(1906–1980)	2002	American aviation pioneer and one of the most prominent racing pilots of her generation	[5][36]
Col. William B. Colgan		(1920–)	1996	US Army Air Corps aviator during World War II	[37][38]
Col. Stanley N. Collins Jr.		(1937–)	2012	U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Delta Air Lines	[39]
Lt. Col. Philip E. "Casey" Colman		(1921–2011)	2002		[40]
Charles N. Coppi		(1931–)	2001		[41]
Lt. Col. Alfred Austell Cunningham		(1882–1939)	1991	The first United States Marine Corps officer who became an aviator	[4][42]
Anthony "Tony" Cushenberry Sr.		(1935–)	2003		[43]
Douglas H. Davis		(1899–1934)	1991		[4][44]
Stephen Dickson		(1957-)	2024	U.S. Air Force pilot, Delta Air Lines executive and administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration	[45]
Charles H. Dolson		(1906-1992)	2025	Only pilot to become CEO of Delta Air Lines	[46]
Lt. Col. Charles E. "Chuck" Dryden		(1920–2008)	1998	World War II aviator, one of the original Tuskegee Airmen, author of A-Train: Memoirs of a Tuskegee Airman.	[47][48]
Henry T. Elrod		(1905–1941)	1995	Marine Corps aviator who was the first aviator to receive the Medal of Honor during World War II	[26][49]
Ben T. Epps		(1888–1937)	1989	Aviation pioneer called “Georgia’s First Aviator”, namesake of Athens Ben Epps Airport	[3][50]
E. Patrick Epps		(1934–)	2011	Greenland Expedition Society	[51]
Ben T. Epps Jr.		(1916–2001)	1994		[52][53][54]
Bruce F. Erion		(1946–2017)	2018	Television aviator	[55]
Ben Faulkner		(1892–1982)	2003		[56]
Charles "Jimmy" Faulkner		(1898–1970)	2003		[57]
Frank Faulkner		(1906–1994)	2003	Helped develop the autogyro at Pitcairn Aviation	[58]
Mike John Ferros		(1943–)	2016	Public safety aviator	[59]
Maj. Gen. George G. Finch		(1902–1986)	1996	Senior Leader of the US Air National Guard	[37][60]
Patrick J. Finneran Jr.		(194?–)	2022	Marines Corps aviator, executive at Boeing	[25]
Richard Fortenberry		(1938–)	2016	U.S. Army skydiver, one of the original Golden Knights	[61][62]
Charlotte Fogg Frye		(1893–1983)	1991		[4][63]
Fitzhugh "Fitz" L. Fulton Jr.		(1925–2015)	1995	Civilian research pilot at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center after a U.S. Air Force career	[26][64]
David C. Garrett		(1922–2012)	2014	Delta Air Lines executive	[65]
Maj. Damon J. "Rocky" Gause		(1915–1944)	2000	United States Army Air Corps officer in World War II	[66]
George H. Gay Jr.		(1917–1994)	1994	World War II pilot who participated in the Battle of Midway	[53][67]
Richard F. Gillis		(1936–2002)	2006		[68]
Albert H. Glenn		(1922–)	2011	Grumman and Gulfstream executive	[69][70]
John H. "Jack" Gray		(1892–1988)	2012	Supervised creation of Atlanta’s main airport	[71]
Capt./Hon. Denmark Groover Jr.		(1922–2001)	2002	World War II Marines Corps aviator with the so-called Black Sheep Squadron	[72]
Lt. Gen. Robert E. Hails		(1923–2012)	2001	U.S. Air Force officer long associated with Georgia bases including Moody and Robins; made significant contributions to aircraft engineering	[73]
Hollis L. Harris		(1931–2016)	2005	Executive for Delta Air Lines, Continental Air Lines, Air Canada and World Airways	[74]
George B. Harrison		(-)	2023	U.S. Air Force major general and research engineer at Georgia Tech Research Institute	[75]
Daniel J. Haughton		(1911–1987)	1994	Former president and CEO of Lockheed Corporation	[53][76]
Capt. Basil Victor Hewes		(1922–2011)	1997	Aviation fire safety pioneer who flew for Delta and the Royal Air Force	[77][78]
Guy Franklin Hill Sr.		(1921–2004)	2004	Civil aviation pioneer, early aerial traffic reporter, Hill Aviation Service	[79][80]
Marion Stegeman Hodgson		(1921–2016)	2006		[81]
Capt. James John Hoogerwerf		(1943–)	2020	U.S. Air Force, Delta Air Lines	[82]
Beverly E. "Old Maestro" Howard		(1914–1971)	1996		[37][83]
Evelyn Greenblatt Howren		(1917–1998)	1994	One of the first WASPs in World War II, one of the first women air traffic controllers, organized first all-woman squadron in Civil Air Patrol.	[53][84]
Duane Huff		(1943–)	2020	Young Eagles program	[82]
Frank W. Hulse		(1912–1992)	1991	Founder and former chairman of Southern Airways	[4][85]
Frank O'Driscoll Hunter		(1894–1982)	1989	World War I aviator, Georgia’s only flying ace	[3][86]
Col. Joe. M. Jackson		(1923–)	1998	Vietnam War aviator for United States Air Force, Medal of Honor recipient	[47][87]
Billy Maddox Jones		(1925–2013)	2018	U.S. Army Air Corps, Lockheed test pilot	[88]
Lewis H. Jordan		(1944–)	2013	AirTran (ValuJet) airline founder	[89]
Edward J. Jungemann		(1918–2012)	2004		[90]
Johnny S. Kytle		(1905–1931)	2014	Air mail aviator and aerial acrobat	[91]
Bill Lavender		(1952-)	2024	Agricultural aviation industry	[45]
Henry Edward Lowe		(1951–)	2019	Lowe's Aviation in Macon	[92]
James Tarver Lowe		(1913–1998)	1996	Founder of Lowe's Aviation in Macon	[37][93]
Samuel A. Lyons		(1944–)	2009	Artist	[94]
Patricia "Mother" Malone		(1924–2008)	2010	Educator of aviators, early member of WAVES	[95]
Henry "Doc" Manget Jr.		(1921–2004)	1998	World War II bomber pilot	[96][47][97]
Douglas G. Matthews		(-)	2025	Aviator	[46]
Belford D. Maule		(1911–1995)	1992	Civilian aircraft manufacturer with Maule Air	[5][98]
June Maule		(1917–2009)	1999	Civilian aircraft manufacturer with Maule Air	[99][100]
Frank M. McAfee		(1917–2006)	2007	United States Navy fighter pilot and flying ace in World War II	[101]
Capt. David S. McCampbell		(1910–1996)	1999	United States Navy fighter pilot and Medal of Honor recipient	[99][102]
Maj. Thomas B. McGuire Jr.		(1920–1945)	1997	United States Army major killed in action during World War II, posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor	[103]
John Bingham McKibbon Jr.		(1924–)	2018	U.S. Air Force	[104]
Robert D. "Bob" McSwiggan		(1931–)	2012	Educator of aviators	[105]
Hamilton McWhorter III		(1921–2008)	1989	U.S. Navy World War II aviator	[3][106]
Col. Howard H. "Mac" McWhorter Jr.		(1931–2007)	1998		[47][107]
Glenn E. Messer		(1896–1995)	1991	Educator of aviators, including Charles Lindbergh in 1923	[4][108]
Joseph C. Miles		(1924–2015)	2007		[109]
Col. James S. Mosbey		(1942–)	2010	U.S. Air Force	[110]
Henry Tift Myers Sr.		(1907–1968)	2007		[111]
Maj. Gen. Cornelius Nugteren		(1928–2017)	2004	United States Air Force major general associated with Robins Air Force Base	[112]
Lt. Col. Winship Nunnally		(1885-1975)	2016	Civil aviation	[113]
Maj. Marion P. "Dutch" Owens		(1921–2005)	2003		[114]
Maj. Gen. Joel B. Paris III		(1922–2014)	2002		[115]
Charles “Buck" Pattillo		(1924–2019)	2000	Air Force lieutenant general who was deputy commander in chief, U.S. Readiness Command	[116]
Cuthbert "Bill" Pattillo		(1924–2014)	2000	Major general in the United States Air Force who served as director of plans and policy for the United States Readiness Command	[116]
Lt. Col. Aldine "Al" Patton		(1923–2015)	2005		[117]
Maj. Gen. John R. Paulk		(1931–)	2010	U.S. Air Force	[118]
Allen E. Paulson		(1922–2000)	1992	Aviation businessman	[5][119]
Sonny Perdue		(1946-)	2025	Former Governor of Georgia and United States Secretary of Agriculture	[46]
Curtis Pitts		(1915–2005)	1991	Designer of a series of aerobatic biplanes known as the Pitts Special	[4][120]
Maj. Stephen W. Pless		(1939–1969)	2012	United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War who received the Medal of Honor	[121]
Jack H. Powell		(1933-2023)	2023	U.S. Air Force colonel and aviator.	[75]
Hazel Jane Raines		(1916–1956)	1989	U.S. Army Air Corps, World War II aviator, “Georgia’s First Lady in Flight”, a Georgia Woman of Achievement	[3][122]
Tom Reilly		(1942-)	2023	Aviator and historic airplane restorer	[75]
James H. Rhyne		(1934–2001)	2011	Air America pilot	[123]
Edward V. Rickenbacker		(1890–1973)	1999	fighter ace in World War I and Medal of Honor recipient; long associated with Eastern Air Lines which was based in Atlanta	[99][124]
Carl E. Sanders		(1925–2014)	1997	74th Governor of the state of Georgia, who encouraged airport construction throughout the state	[125]
Tye Carter Sanders		(1895–1993)	1991	Early proponent of Atlanta's airport Candler Field, helped convince his friend William B. Hartsfield it was a good idea	[4][126]
Robert L. Scott Jr.		(1908–2006)	1989	U.S. Air Force, World War II aviator, author of "God Is My Co-Pilot”	[3][127]
Lt. Col. Mack D. Secord		(1932–)	2014	U.S. Air Force	[128]
Lt. Col. Earnest A. Shelton		(1917–2014)	2009	U.S. Army, World War II aviator, aviation instructor	[129]
Lt. Col. Christofer B. Smisson		(1948–2003)	2006	Delta Air Lines pilot who competed in aerobatics competitions	[130]
Major General Perry McCoy Smith		(1934–)	2020	U.S. Air Force Major General; Aviation and military commentary on TV	[82]
Col. Robert H. Sprayberry		(1928–2003)	2005		[131]
Guy Orlando Stone		(1896–1980)	1989	World War I aviator	[3][132]
Mark Thompson		(1951-)	2024	Racing driver and aviator	[45]
Lance Paige Toland		(1955–)	2019	Aviation insurance industry	[133]
Norman Topshe		(1914–2009)	2019	52 year career with Delta Air Lines	[134]
Adm. John H. Towers		(1885–1955)	2004	United States Navy admiral and pioneer naval aviator	[135]
Vice Adm. Richard H. Truly		(1937–2024)	1995	United States Navy fighter pilot, former astronaut for both the United States Air Force and NASA, eighth NASA Administrator. He was the first former astronaut to head the space agency.	[26][136]
Gil West		(1961-)	2023	Former COO of Delta Air Lines	[75]
Capt. Hilliard A. Wilbanks		(1933–1967)	2001	Vietnam War pilot for United States Air Force, he posthumously received the Medal of Honor	[137]
Michael D. Williams		(-)	2025	Aviation industry inventor	[46]
Col. Lynn "L.E." Witt Jr.		(1916–2003)	2010	World War II aviator	[138]
Collett Everman Woolman		(1889–1966)	1992	Delta Air Lines co-founder	[5][139]
Capt. John W. Young		(1930 – 2018)	2001	NASA astronaut, naval officer and aviator, test pilot. Ninth person to walk on the Moon during Apollo 16, commanded STS-1, STS-9.	[140]

See also

• North American aviation halls of fame