Kingsport's E. Ward King to be posthumously inducted into Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame

The board of directors of the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame has named the 2009 class of inductees who will be honored and enshrined on Nov. 14 at the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame’s Annual Gala, held at the Tennessee Museum of Aviation in Gatlinburg.

The Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame was established to recognize, honor and enshrine individuals whose leadership in or for aviation, whether by exceptional service or extraordinary achievement, has made an enduring contribution to aviation for Tennessee, our nation or the world. It was established in 2001 as Tennessee’s Official Hall of Fame by the 102nd General Assembly, and those inducted are recipients of Tennessee’s highest honor in aviation or aerospace. This institution will record their achievements and perpetuate the memory of those enshrined for all time.

On Nov. 14, Jim D. Ethridge and three other distinguished Tennesseans will take their place in history as they are enshrined into the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame.

Ethridge learned to fly in his hometown of Union City in 1959 and received his private pilot checkride from aviation legend Evelyn Bryan Johnson on Jan. 19, 1960. He later served alongside Mrs. Johnson on the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission. His pilot ratings include commercial fixed-wing single, multi-engine and instrument ratings and commercial helicopter. Ethridge has owned and flown a variety of piston, turbo-prop, jet and helicopter aircraft.

In 1995, Gov. Don Sundquist appointed Ethridge to the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission, where he served two consecutive five-year terms — twice as commission chairman. During his service on the commission, the Tennessee Office of Aeronautics was elevated to division status within the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Prior to completing his second term on the state aeronautics commission, Ethridge was appointed to the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority. Memphis International Airport is known as “America’s Aerotropolis.” It is the only airport in North America considered to be an “aerotropolis,” a world-class facility serving more than 10 million passengers a year and the largest air cargo airport in the world for nearly two decades. Ethridge has chaired the MSCAA long-term planning and development committee and its general aviation committee.

He was elected the 2008 chairman of the Commissioner’s Committee of the Airports Council International-North America, the North American branch of Airports Council International headquartered in Geneva, and he became a voting member of the Airports Council Board in Washington. He expanded the lobbying efforts of commissioners of major airports in the U.S. and Canada focused upon guiding legislation in Washington to benefit airports and air travelers.

Also being inducted is Jennifer C. Baker of Nashville, who has been a staunch advocate of the aviation maintenance professional for more than 30 years. She was named the Federal Aviation Administration’s Tennessee Aviation Safety Counselor of the Year in 1999 and serves on many aviation industry advisory committees. Nashville’s Baker’s School of Aeronautics enrolls over 1,100 students annually who travel to Tennessee from more than 125 countries around the world.

Kingsport entrepreneur E. Ward King (1896-1977) will be posthumously inducted. King founded Southeast Airlines in 1956. The airline provided service from Memphis to Tri-Cities and included stops at Jackson, Dyersburg and Union City, Clarksville, Nashville, Tullahoma, Chattanooga and Knoxville.

Another inductee will be Murfreesboro resident William H. Pickron, who completed pilot training in 1942 at age 19, making him the youngest pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps. After a distinguished 26-year career in the U.S. Air Force, Lt. Col. Pickron became the chief pilot for the State of Tennessee and for 12 years he flew Tennessee governors, cabinet members and staff.

Aviation legend and Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame member (2002) Evelyn Bryan Johnson of Morristown will be honored at this year’s gala. Mrs. Johnson will celebrate her 100th birthday Nov. 4. Plans are being made to encourage a reunion of her friends and former flight students during the TAHF Gala.Mrs. Speer is executive director of the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame. She is also manager of Everett-Stewart Regional Airport in Union City.