DAVIS, W.Va. — The West Virginia Airport Managers Association recognized two distinguished men for their contributions to the aviation industry with an induction into the West Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame.
During a private event held at the Canaan Valley Resort on July 31, this years inductees were honored during the annual West Virginia Aviation Conference.
The 2023 West Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame inductees include Thomas E. Cochran and Perry E. Dillon.
Cochran was born in Beaver, West Virginia, on July 8, 1940.
Originally a coal miner, he pursued a second career in aviation by attending the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He earned his Federal Aviation Administration certifications in 1968 in aircraft maintenance, radio operations, and aircraft accident insurance investigation.
Cochran was hired by Trans World Airlines (TWA) as an aircraft mechanic based at Dulles International Airport and worked there for 3 years. A nationwide layoff forced Cochran to find work with the Pittson Coal Company. He worked there for many years before retiring July 7, 1997.
The following day, Cochran was hired as the Director of Raleigh County Memorial Airport, which is located in his hometown of Beaver.
Dillon was born in Barton, West Virginia, on March 29, 1937.
It wasn’t until 1956 in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, that Dillon record his first flight. He went through his flight training in Elkins, West Virginia.
Dillon obtained his Private Pilot license in April 1960 and then his Commercial Pilot’s license in June 1961. He became a Certified Flight Instructor in January 1962.
Dillon moved to Mississippi to train for crop dusting after finding no nearby demand for flight instruction. He was able to move back to Elkins thanks to a group of residents who were seeking an instructor for their brand new flying club.
The Barton native assisted 27 pilots through their first solo flight and trained a total of 100 students.
In April 1964, Dillon would finally achieve his dream of becoming an airline pilot when he was granted a position with Lake Central Airlines. His professional airline career would span more than three decades.
The West Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame is located in the terminal building of the North Central West Virginia Airport (CKB) in Clarksburg, West Virginia. For more information about the West Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame, visit www.wvama.org
Each Inductee is honored with a descriptive plaque which showcases their contributions to West Virginia aviation.