[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 21, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H5360-H5361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING CHARLIE HILLARD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas, Mr. Pete Geren, is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PETE GEREN of 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 world-renowned 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 father's 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 U.S. 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 world--the 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 high-
performance World War II fixed-wing monoplane. The Fury saw most of its 
wartime action in Korea, and was the first airplane to shoot down a 
Russian MiG-15 jet.
  Charlie gave much to aviation, but he also contributed significantly 
to the automotive industry as an innovative

[[Page H5361]]

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.

                          ____________________