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."

FMI: www.museumofaviation.org