THE LONE STAR Flight Museum hosted a group of luminaries and aviation enthusiasts recently for an event in honor of new inductees into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame. Some 300 folks attended this event at the museum in the Heritage Hangar, where numerous historic aircraft are stored.

“The 2023 Texas Aviation Hall of Fame inductees join an impressive list of members including Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and George W. Bush, the Doolittle Raiders, Tuskegee Airmen, Bessie Coleman, Eileen Collins, Gene Cernan, Gene Kranz and many more,” explained a rep for the museum.

Following remarks by museum President Doug Owens, board chair Scott Rozzell presented each of the four inductees with the official hall of fame medallion, as well as a letter of commendation from Gov. Greg Abbott.

Inductees include FlightAware founder Daniel Baker, retired Air Force Major Gen. Joe H. Engle, WWII aircraft collector Rod Lewis and Edna Gardner Whyte, a barrier-breaking flight instructor who founded two flight schools.

Daniel Baker and Tyson Weihs

Rod Lewis, Scott Rozzell, Daniel Baker, Lu Hollander, Doug Owens

Scott Rozzell and Lu Hollander

SM Sgt Promise Harris singing National Anthem

The scene

Daniel Baker, wife Jennifer and daughter Natalie

Joe and Jeanie Engle

Challenge coin and program