The Texas Aviation Hall of Fame has chosen to honor Bessie Coleman for the year 2000. Miss Coleman was the first African American woman aviator. Previously she was honored by the U.S. Postal Service with her own stamp in April of 1995. She was born in Atlanta, Texas on Jan. 26, 1892. Later the family moved to Waxahachie, Texas where Bessie's mother was left to raise thirteen children. In 1915, Bessie decided to leave Texas and go to Chicago to live with her brother. As stated previously, no African American woman had ever flown before and Bessie was scoffed at by various flight schools in America.

She then traveled to Paris in 1920 and would complete her training and receive her license to fly. Back in Chicago, Bessie was treated like a celebrity and began to put on air stunt shows. She bought her first plane for $400.00. In 1926, Miss Coleman fell to her death in Florida during a performance.

In 1992, Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago announced that May 2 would be Bessie Coleman day in Chicago. Atlanta, Texas had their own celebration in 1995 honoring her accomplishments. Bessie Coleman proved to all that if "we dare dream, then we can succeed."

This information was taken from the Cass County Connections, Vol 26, Sept 2000, pg 83