[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 120 (Thursday, September 5, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1529]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TRIBUTE TO A FLIER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM (BILL) CLAY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 5, 1996

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, bustling in the skies overhead--airplanes and 
helicopters, satellites and spaceships, dirigibles and sometimes even 
UFO's--orbit the Earth in voyages of commerce, missions of mercy, war, 
flights of fantasy, and excursions of adventure and leisure.
  For centuries our ancestors had no paths through the clouds. Once, 
most thought man would never fly; that only birds might soar the 
kingdom of clouds and rainbows. Today pilots steer passengers through 
the clouds and across the starry skies because dreamers and thinkers 
and inventors held to a faith that someday man would navigate the 
heavens.
  Those who keep faith in their missions open new worlds and inspire us 
all to reach new heights.
  I would like to take this opportunity to share a little bit of the 
story of one of our Nation's first black commercial airline pilots. 
Perry Jones is one of those faithful whose hard work, spirit, and 
dedication chartered a new course to the future. He is a model for 
young people who are pursuing dreams of flying and he is a model for 
older people who are searching out new rainbows when they retire from 
their life's work. Mr. Speaker, Capt. M. Perry Jones is one of our 
Nation's high-flying heroes.
  Enclosed is a copy of an article on Capt. M. Perry Jones which was 
recently published by Visions magazine and written by Mr. Ronald 
Johnson and Ms. Constance Gipson of the California Department of 
Education.

                         Captain M. Perry Jones


 Pilot, Delta Airlines; President, Organization of Black Airline Pilots

       Birthplace: Cartersville, Virginia.
       Raised: Montclair, New Jersey.
       Resides: Glen Ridge, New Jersey.
       Captain M. Perry Jones was born in Cartersville, Virginia, 
     and lived with his grandparents on a small farm. His 
     grandfather was his hero. ``Wherever he went, I went. I was 
     his shadow,'' he recalls fondly. ``He, my grandmother, and my 
     aunts played a major role in my life.'' Captain Jones joined 
     his parents and his brother in New Jersey when he was ten.
       ``I knew I wanted to be a pilot when I was five or six 
     years old. I used to watch planes fly over my house and dream 
     of becoming a pilot. Because I was poor, I didn't know how I 
     was going to do it, but I knew what I wanted.'' Now, after 
     overcoming numerous obstacles, Captain Perry Jones flies an 
     A310, also known as an air bus, between New York and Europe, 
     touching down in such cities as Bucharest, Warsaw, Hamburg, 
     and Budapest, and many other exciting places.
       An honor student and athlete in high school, Jones went on 
     to earn two college degrees at the same time, one in 
     aeronautical engineering and the other in mechanical 
     engineering at the same time. Being focused was his key to 
     success in high school and college. He was determined to be 
     the best. In high school, he excelled in math, science, and 
     physics, and his extraordinary efforts earned him several 
     scholarship offers to some of the best colleges in the 
     country. He chose the University of Pittsburgh because of its 
     exemplary track program. He was on a world record relay team.
       Although sports were important to Jones, academics came 
     first. In college, Jones got up at three o'clock every 
     morning to study. His dedication and self-discipline paid 
     off when he was hired right out of college as an engineer 
     by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation.
       After one year at Lockheed, Jones joined the Air Force, and 
     entered flight training. He ranked first in academics and 
     first in flying ability, but he was sent to navigation school 
     and became a navigator.
       It was not until he had completed navigator training and 
     was assigned to Travis Air Force Base in California that he 
     got the opportunity to attend pilot training. A general 
     recognized Jones's ability and mentored him, leading to his 
     return to aviation school and pilot training. Next, he was 
     sent to Vietnam, where he flew air tankers that refueled 
     bombers in flight. After six years in the Air Force, during 
     which he flew 126 missions in Vietnam, Jones left military 
     life to become the first African American pilot to fly for 
     Pan American Airlines.
       Because of his rich experiences in aviation, Captain Jones 
     strongly believes that young people should continue to pursue 
     aeronautical careers: ``Opportunities will be there for young 
     people who want to be in aviation, even with the current 
     trend toward scaling down the airlines.''
       As president of the Organization of Black Airline Pilots, 
     Captain Jones testifies before Congress and makes television 
     and radio appearances about blacks in aviation--there are 
     approximately 660 black airline pilots in the United States 
     today. The Organization of Black Airline Pilots holds 
     seminars and flight schools, and provides support to aspiring 
     pilots and persons already flying for the airlines.
       Captain Jones believes that he owes a debt to the people 
     who helped him, so he volunteers countless hours working with 
     young African Americans, helping them pursue their career 
     goals. He wants to see young African American men gain self-
     esteem through meaningful employment so that there can be a 
     return to the sense of family that has traditionally been 
     part of the black culture. ``Young men need to learn how to 
     get a good job so that they can raise their families with 
     dignity. They can't respect others until they have learned to 
     respect themselves.'' Captain M. Perry Jones lives and 
     practices the philosophy, ``I judge myself on how I have 
     helped other people to reach their goals.''

                          ____________________