ABOUT THE TEXAS AVIATION HALL OF FAME

The Texas Aviation Hall of Fame was established in 1995 through a resolution by the 74th Texas Legislature and signed by then Gov. George W. Bush to honor and recognize Texans and Texas companies or organizations that have made significant and lasting contributions to the advancement of aviation. There are currently 97 individuals and groups in the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, in four categories which include trailblazers and explorers, wartime aviators, leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators. The Texas Aviation Hall of Fame represents trailblazers and explorers such as Bessie Coleman and Wiley Post; leaders such as Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush; World War II aviators Tex Hill, the Doolittle Raiders, Tuskegee Airmen and Women Airforce Service Pilots; astronauts Eileen Collins, Joe Engle and Gene Cernan; and entrepreneurs Howard Hughes and Rod Lewis.

Texas Aviation Hall of Fame

Wiley H. W. Post

Class of
1999
Aviation Innovator

Robert W. Prescott

Class of
1999
Founder of the Flying Tiger Line, Inc.

Eugene W. “Gene” Roddenberry

Class of
1999
Creator of Star Trek

Alan L. Bean

Class of
1998
Astronaut

Najeeb E. Halaby

Class of
1998
Test Pilot, Airline Executive, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration

Howard R. Hughes

Class of
1998
Aviator and Pioneer

Herbert D. “Herb” Kelleher

Class of
1998
Founder of Southwest Airlines

Chester W. Nimitz

Class of
1998
Fleet Admiral of the United States Navy

Cyrus R. Smith

Class of
1998
President of American Airlines

Lloyd M. Bentsen, Jr.

Class of
1997
U.S. Senator, World War II Bomber Pilot

George H.W. Bush

Class of
1997
President of the United States

Beryl A. Erickson

Class of
1997
Production Test Pilot

Joe M. Kilgore

Class of
1997
B-24 Pilot and Congressman