[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 14, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E27]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING TEXAS-24 HOMETOWN HERO WALLY FUNK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETH VAN DUYNE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 14, 2025

  Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor our Texas-24 Hometown 
Hero, Wally Funk. At age nine, Wally Funk took her first flying lesson, 
sparking a lifelong passion. As a teenager, Wally earned her pilot's 
license and has gone on to become an accomplished flight instructor and 
aviator. Wally joined Oklahoma State University's Aviation Team, 
earning countless awards including the ``Outstanding Female Pilot'' 
trophy, ``Flying Aggie Top Pilot'' award, and ``Alfred Alder Memorial 
Trophy'' two years in a row.
  In 1961, Wally volunteered for the Women in Space Program, enduring 
the same strenuous physical and mental tests as the men of Mercury 7. 
After ranking third out of the 13 who graduated, beating out U.S. 
Astronaut John Glenn on many of the tests, Mercury 13 was denied the 
opportunity to travel to space. Decades later, at the age of 82, Wally 
became the oldest woman to venture into space on Blue Origin's New 
Shepard suborbital spacecraft. She was recently inducted into the Texas 
Aviation Hall of Fame, symbolizing the remaikable career of Grapevine's 
very own aviator-turned-astronaut.
  Wally's perseverance has inspired many North Texans. I Congratulate 
Wally on her deserved induction to the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame. I 
look forward to hearing about more of her accomplishments in the near 
future.

                          ____________________