Date: 1996-05-21
Speaker: PETE GEREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. on April 16. Forth Worth. TX. lost one of our most beloved and admired citizens and the world of aviation lost one of its heroes. Charlie R. Hillard. a worldrenowned aerobatic pilot and longtime business and civic leader. died at the age of 58. in an aviation accident in Lakeland. FL. Charlie Hillard loved to fly. When he was only 10 years old. he cleaned cars at his fathers automobile dealership for $10 a week. saving enough money to begin taking flying lessons by the time he turned 15. During his freshman year at Georgia Tech. Charlie. purchased his first airplane. and the rest. as they say. is history. From his youngest days. he seemed more at home in the air than on the ground. Charlie took up skydiving at age 18 and soon earned a place on the US. Skydiving Team. In 1958 he placed second at the famed Coupe du Monde in Paris. That same year. he became the first person in the United States to pass a baton to another person in freefall. But precision flying was his passion and where Charlie made his mark on the world. He gave up skydiving to devote his energies to flying and he soared. During his career he not only won the U.S. National Championship but also represented the United States in four world championships. In 1972. he became the first American ever to win the world aerobatic title. Charlie won four gold medals in the Olympics of the Air. received. the International Council of Air Shows Award. of Excellence. was a member of the International Aerobatic Hall of Fame and the Fort Worth Aviation- Hall of Fame. In his prime. he was the best in the worldthe best in the world. And. he loved everything about flying. He worked as an aircraft designer. test pilot. exhibition pilot. movie stunt pilot. and leader of the world famous Eagle Aerobatic Team. flying with Tom Poberenzy and Gene Soucy. The Eagles flew more than 1.000 exhibitions worldwide over 25 years. Charlie himself performed in over 180 different aircraft over four decades. Charlie had only recently began a career as a solo aerobatic pilot. At the time of his death. he was flying the Lone Star Fury. a highperformance World War II fixedwing monoplane. The Fury saw most of its wartime action in Korea. and was the first airplane to shoot down a Russian MiG15 jet. Charlie gave much to aviation. but he also contributed significantly to the automotive industry as an innovative businessman. He expanded his family automobile dealership from a single Ford franchise to one of the most successful auto parks in the country. The Hillard dealerships have won nearly every customer satisfaction award in the industry for each of the franchises they represent. He also was a community leader. lending his considerable energy and talent to numerous civic causes. But to recall only his lifetime of public accomplishments misses a huge part of Charlie. He was loved by so many friends and family. and gave love generously in return. He was a devoted husband and father. leaving behind his wife Doreen and four children. We join them in celebrating the life of a truly remarkable man and mourning his untimely death. To Doreen and all the children. we say thank you for sharing his life with us. We are all better for having known Charlie R. As race car legend Johnny Rutherford said at the funeral. he left a special footprint on the hearts of us all. Charlie R. soared.