Olive Ann Beech

Born: 1903

Died: 1993

Country of Birth: USA

Nationality: USA

Ethnicity: White

American Secretarial & Business College, 1920

Field of Study: Entrepreneur

Institution/Corporation: Beech Aircraft; Raytheon

Degrees & Memberships: Honorary Degree: Wichita State University 1982; Member: Raytheon Board of Directors

Awards: 1980, Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy (w/Walter Beech) 1st female to receive the award; 1943, 1 of 12 Most Distinguished Women in America, NY Times; 1970, 1 of 10 Highest Ranking Women Executives in Major American Corporations, Fortune Magazine; 1973, National Aviation Hall of Fame; 1983, American National Business Hall Of Fame; 1989, Kansas Business Hall of Fame; 1994, Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame; 1995, International Air & Space Hall of Fame; 2013, #31 on Flying Magazine s 51 Heroes of Aviation (w/Walter Beech); 1957, Native Sons & Daughters s Kansan of the Year; 1936, Bendix Trophy (w/Walter Beech); 1983, Global Business Hall of Fame; 2023, Paul E. Garber 1st Flight Shrine Honoree (w/Walter Beech); 1951, Woman of the Year, Women s National Aeronautical Association; 1952, Lady Drummond Hay Trophy

Achievements: Co-founder of Beech Aircraft (1932) with Walter Beech & 3 others; took over as president and chairman of the board after Walter s death in 1950; 1st woman to head a major aircraft company; started Beechcraft Acceptance Corporation to enable customers to finance the purchase of planes; supplied products for NASA s Gemini, Apollo & space shuttle programs