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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. Donald Duerson

Ruth Reinhold's mark on Arizona aviation history began in 1933 when she flew out of a cow pasture that later became Sky Harbor Airport. It ended with her death Tuesday at the age 83.
Reinhold began her career when she moved to Phoenix from Los Angeles in 1933. Paul Odneal, operator of Copper Clad Airways, taught her to fly at Sky Harbor in exchange for running his office. After Odneal's death in 1936, she worked with Gary "Pappy" Knier, Sky Harbor's manager, until 1946.
Reinhold flew charter service, sold airplanes and was an instructor in the Civilian Pilot Training Program prior to World War II. During the war, she was a captain in the Civil Air Patrol, flying courier missions from Phoenix to Tucson and Blythe, Calif. Reinhold taught instrument flying to B-24 pilots during World War II and was a pilot or co-pilot for Sen. Barry Goldwater, R-Ariz., for 20 years.
In 1968, she became the first woman appointed to the state Aeronautics Board. In 1982, she published a book, Sky Pioneering; Arizona in Aviation History. She was honored several times for her achievements, which included 50 years of flying with only one significant accident.
Last June, Reinhold was honored at a dinner held by the Phoenix Sky Harbor Auxiliary for her contribution to Arizona aviation. In July, she and Goldwater were honored by Sky Harbor Airport for service in aviation.