The Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame [1] was established by the Colorado Aviation Historical Society (CAHS) in Denver, Colorado, US, on November 11, 1969, for the State of Colorado. The original and first ten Colorado aviation pioneers were inducted into the Hall on that date. Guest speaker for the event was author Ernest K. Gann. The Hall of Fame is part of the Society's Heritage Hall in the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, Denver, Colorado.
Originally, to be considered for the Hall of Fame, ones' pioneering activities were to be completed before November 11, 1918. Subsequently, the cut-off date was changed to 1935, then eliminated. Aviation pioneering including development of airports, air mail routes, flying training facilities, flight management and mapping, aviation and aerospace manufacturing and maintenance, aviation weather tracking and forecasting, teaching and educating, advancements in aviation business, and military achievements. These are some of the activities that challenged Colorado aviators and aviation business persons.
In the first 25 years of the Hall of Fame, over 160 Coloradans and organizations have been inducted and so honored.
CAHS has highlighted the history of its Hall Of Fame Laureates from Southern Colorado with an exhibit of photos and biographies.
Frederic C. Hamilton was the chairman of The Hamilton Companies, a loosely connected group of companies focused on oil production, real estate holdings and educational institutions.
Robert Forman Six was an American businessman who was the CEO of Continental Airlines from 1936 to 1980. Beginning his career in the early days of commercial aviation in the United States, he became the CEO of Continental Airlines, a major contemporary airline.
Harry Benjamin Combs, America aviation pioneer, airplane manufacturer, and author. He was founder of Combs Aviation and president of Gates Learjet Corporation.
Elrey Borge Jeppesen was an American aviation pioneer noted for his contributions in the field of air navigation. He worked as a pilot and began making detailed notes about his routes at a time when aviators had to rely on little more than automobile road maps and landmarks for navigation. He created manuals and charts that enabled pilots to fly much more safely. Finding a demand existed for his work, he founded the Jeppesen company in 1934 to sell what he had developed.
Frances Jacobs was born in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, to Jewish Bavarian immigrants and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. She married Abraham Jacobs, the partner of her brother Jacob, and came west with him to Colorado where Wisebart and Jacobs had established businesses in Denver and Central City. In Denver, Frances Jacobs became a driving force for the city's charitable organizations and activities, with national exposure. Among the philanthropical organizations she founded, she is best remembered as a founder of the United Way and the Denver's Jewish Hospital Association.
Christian Cook is a retired professional lacrosse defenseman who last played professional field lacrosse with the Washington Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse (MLL). He starred as a member of the Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse team from 1995 through 1998, where he earned National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) lacrosse defenseman of the year award, two United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) All-American recognitions, four Ivy League championships, and three national championships.
Joshua S. Sims is an American former professional lacrosse player. He played in Major League Lacrosse through 2013 and last played box lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League with the Philadelphia Wings in 2010. He starred as a member of the Princeton Tigers men's lacrosse team from 1997 through 2000. He is a two-time NCAA champion, three-time MLL champion, and one-time NLL champion.
The Colorado Aviation Historical Society (CAHS) is located at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum Old Lowry AFB Campus, Denver, CO and was founded in 1966. The Society acquires, restores, preserves and provides for public display, aircraft and other objects, documents, items and things of present or historical interest or value in connection with the development and history of aviation in the State of Colorado. CAHS hosts many aviation events and participates in many of Colorado's air shows and fly-ins. The Society has regular membership meetings and publishes a quarterly history journal. The Society owns an Alexander Eaglerock Model 24 Long Wings airplane which is on display at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum. The Society also owns a Steen Skybolt aerobatic biplane which is on display at the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum Pueblo Airport, Pueblo, CO.
William G. Tierney is an American lacrosse coach who is the Head Coach for the Philadelphia Waterdogs. Previously, he led the men's lacrosse team at the University of Denver. Tierney is the first college lacrosse coach to win an NCAA DI Championship west of the Eastern Time Zone. He coached seven NCAA DI championship teams, including six at Princeton University and one at the University of Denver. Tierney's teams have had a combined winning percentage of .743.
Grant–Humphreys Mansion in Denver, Colorado, was built in 1902, in the Neoclassical style of architecture by Boal and Harnois, for James Benton Grant following his one term as the third Governor of Colorado (1883–1885). The house has been home to two families.
Captain Jerry Cox Vasconcells was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories. Vasconcells was inducted into the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame in its first ceremony of 1969.
George W. Thompson was a self-taught aviator, and is one of the first Coloradan flyers. He was born near Sharon Springs, Kansas. Thompson built a Mathewson biplane, a Curtiss design, and soloed it on January 4, 1911.
Elizabeth Robbins Stone was an American pioneer woman who was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 1988.
Emily Joyce Howell Warner was an American airline pilot and the first woman captain of a scheduled U.S. airline.
Ivy Baldwin was born William Ivy on July 31, 1866 in Houston, Texas He changed his name in later years to Ivy Baldwin so that he could be billed as one of "The Baldwin Brothers". Baldwin was an American balloonist, aeronaut and high-wire performer. He is credited with being the first aviator to be shot down during wartime in the U.S. during the Spanish–American War.
Allan F. Bonnalie (1893–1981) was an early aeroplane builder and aviator in Colorado, multi-medal recipient of World War I in 3 branches of military and created a comprehensive crew training program for United Airlines Flight Training Center, Denver.
Frank August Van Dersarl was a self-taught pilot and aircraft builder of early aviation the Colorado. Van Dersarl owned an aviation company, and taught flying; also owned the Denver Union Airport.