EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (November 13, 2023) — Five individuals who contributed greatly to recreational aviation were honored on November 9 as they were inducted into the EAA Sport Aviation Halls of Fame during a ceremony and dinner at the EAA Aviation Center in Oshkosh.
The 2023 inductees include:
- EAA Homebuilders Hall of Fame: Neal Loving (posthumous)
- International Aerobatic Club Hall of Fame: Lew Shattuck of Yelm, Washington
- Warbirds of America Hall of Fame: Chuck Greenhill (posthumous)
- Vintage Aircraft Association Hall of Fame: John Parish Sr. of Tullahoma, Tennessee
- EAA Ultralights Hall of Fame: Paul Mather of Saint Elmo, Alabama
Vintage Aircraft Association Hall of Fame – John Parish Sr. (EAA 43943): Parish’s pilot journey began in high school and college where he juggled being a student with learning to fly. In 1964, he bought his first airplane, a Cherokee 180 and began attending fly-ins across the country. Over time, Parish grew an affinity for one airplane in particular, the Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing. Parish was finally able to purchase one of his own in 1970. Parish became continuously more involved with the International Staggerwing Club and in 1973, John and his wife Charlotte helped establish the Staggerwing Museum Foundation, now known as the Beechcraft Heritage Museum, in Tullahoma, Tennessee. Parish’s involvement with EAA has included serving on the organization’s board for more than 30 years, and working as director and vice president of the EAA Aviation Foundation.
Warbirds of America Hall of Fame – Charles “Chuck” Greenhill (posthumous): Greenhill’s involvement in warbird restoration began soon after his time serving in the U.S. Army. His skills as a tool and die maker helped bring warbird aircraft back to life. Working alongside his wife Bev, they restored the warbirds back to their original condition. Notable among his numerous restoration projects is the only surviving Grumman J2F-4 Duck from the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Greenhill’s restorations frequently appeared at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh during the 2000s and 2010s, earning him the 2007 World War II Grand Champion, 2003 and 2005 Reserve Grand Champion, and the 2014 Preservation Award. He also used his aviation passion to inspire the next generation by attending fly-ins and letting children see his aircraft up close and learn about their importance in American history. Greenhill died in April 2022.
The EAA Sport Aviation Halls of Fame were established to honor the outstanding achievements of men and women in aviation who share the spirit of EAA and its community. Those inducted into the halls of fame are selected by their peers for myriad contributions made to their respective areas of aviation.
In addition, Jim Casper of Oshkosh received the Henry Kimberly Leadership Award that recognizes Oshkosh-area residents for volunteer service to EAA. Casper is a longtime volunteer EAA Aviation Museum docent and volunteer.
About EAA
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and embodies The Spirit of Aviation through the world’s most engaged community of aviation enthusiasts. EAA’s 270,000 members and 900 local chapters enjoy the fun and camaraderie of sharing their passion for flying, building and restoring recreational aircraft. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 800-JOIN-EAA (800-564-6322) or go to www.eaa.org. For continual news updates, connect with www.twitter.com/EAA.v
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