Claud Holbert, an aviation pioneer in Arkansas, first soloed at age 16 in the Arkansas National Guard. With a $1,200 loan he founded the Central Flying Service in 1939. It is still in existence today and is the state’s largest and oldest aviation firm.
Claud was commander of the Arkansas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol from 1953 to 1957.
He was senior pilot examiner in the United States and one of the most experienced pilots in the country having accumulated over 40,000 hours. Claud was inducted into the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame in 1982. Claud was 72 at the time of his death in 1983.