Gilbert Chamberlin Hegy (1913 - ) is recognized as an American Airlines Pioneer. Gilbert Hegy, affectionately known as "Gil", began his employment with American Airlines in 1935 and worked for American until his retirement in 1975 - forty years of service characterized by a perfect safety record. His career took flight when he received his airframe and power plant certificate at Parks Air College in St. Louis, Illinois. The first stop of Gil's employment was as a mechanic in Buffalo, New York (1935). In 1944 he began working at Chicago's Midway Airport where he was promoted to Foreman of Maintenance (1948). And in 1958, American promoted Gilbert to General Foreman at O'Hare Airport. The final leg of his career with American was as Maintenance Manager in Buffalo, New York until he retired in 1975. Gilbert now lives in Crystal Lake, Illinois, where he moved following the passing of his wife of 65 years, Josephine Hegy.
Gilbert was bitten by the aviation bug during his youth, in rural Wisconsin, when he read accounts of Lindbergh's flight and witnessed, alongside his cousins, the dazzling feats of visiting barnstormers. Gil recalls his early maintenance days, working on radial powered aircraft such as the Curtiss Condor and Douglas DC 3. He later transitioned into the jet age, supervising maintenance on such equipment as the Boeing 707. He also reminisces about the days before runway lights, when one of his responsibilities was lighting the smudge pots that helped the pilots navigate safely to land.
Many involved with the industry explain how the love of aviation "just gets in your blood." Gilbert Hegy certainly passed his love of aviation down to his children and grandchildren, many of whom also pursued careers in civil and military aviation. His family is very proud of his contributions to United States aviation history and loves him dearly.