Growing up in New York City's Spanish Harlem may seem an unlikely place to cultivate an interest in aviation, but for Theodore T. (Ted) Matagrano that's exactly where his lifelong love of flying took root.

As a young boy he dreamt of flying above the clouds and kept his mind focused on turning that dream into a reality. Despite being the youngest of 8 children, and losing his father at a young age, Ted never lost sight of what was truly important to him - becoming a licensed pilot.

At age 14, he began taking twice weekly flying lessons in New Jersey, and continued working and striving to reach his goal; earning his pilots license at the age of 17.

A self-made businessman, inventor, entrepreneur, and proud Army veteran, Ted Matagrano is as in love with flying today as he was during his first solo flight over 40 years ago. One only need be a passenger on one of his flights to see the wonder, amazement, and boyish enthusiasm reflected on his face. As such, it is altogether fitting and proper that the name of Theodore T. Matagrano be inscribed on The National Aviation & Space Exploration Wall of Honor, taking its place among all those men and women who truly live to fly. For whether one is a novice Cessna pilot or a man who has walked on the moon, all here honored share the same basic reality - that of at one time being a small child looking up at the stars and dreaming of soaring among them.