Foil: 17 Panel: 2 Column: 4 Line: 79

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Ms. Maria Alpizar

When Grady Everett Stevens was a child in rural Arkansas, he dreamed of being a pilot. He had no idea how he would get there from working on his family's farm - but he did it. He was the first person in his family to graduate with a college degree. He volunteered for service in the Army during the Vietnam War, became an officer, and reached the rank of Captain. The Army trained him to be a pilot and he served with distinction in the 198th Assault Helicopter Company, the "Ghost Riders" of Camp Holloway in Pleiku from May of 1967 to May of 1968. Captain Stevens earned three Air Medals, a Distinguished Flying Cross, and a Republic of Vietnam Service Medal, as well as many other distinctions over his career as a pilot.
After Grady Everett Stevens came home from a tour in Germany, he left the Army and served in the Arkansas National Guard. He began work in aerial aviation, where he was a pioneer in helicopter applications. Over his 38-year aviation career, he worked for Mid-Continent Aviation, owned and operated MTA Helicopters, and managed International Paper Helicopter Division. He trained many helicopter pilots in aerial aviation techniques and developed and patented an applicator torch for a new method of aerial burning via helicopter. In his long and distinguished career, he logged over 25,000 hours of flight time in various aircraft and helicopters.
Hi colleagues, friends, and beloved family all have named him the "best helicopter pilot in the world."