Wesley NEILL Hart Jr. was born July 12, 1931 in Dermott. As a Methodist “preacher’s kid”, he attended several schools in south Arkansas while growing up. He graduated from Hendrix College in Conway AR in 1953 with a degree in the natural sciences. Since he always loved airplanes, upon graduation he applied for pilot training and joined the Air Force in October 1953.
Neill trained at Lackland, Hondo and Williams Air Force Bases. He graduated from jet school as a distinguished cadet and was assigned to the 1739th Ferrying Squadron. Stationed at Amarillo Texas, his ferrying missions took him from Alaska across the Northern Hemisphere to Greenland, Iceland and the British Isles to Europe and North Africa. He also flew from Okinawa and Japan to islands in the Pacific.
Many of the older aircraft flown in for repair of interesting damage presented some challenges in transport and landing.
Some of his most memorable moments are of a C-119 which had 26 feet of fuselage missing that was flown from France to Olmstead AFB with only canvas strapped on over the opening and of an SA16 landed wheels up with its torn bottom replaced by doped fabric that was transported from North Africa to the US. Another memory is of a partial panel C-47 GCA landing at Fairbanks in minimal conditions.
Neill completed his service as a 1st Lieutenant in January 1958. He moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, worked at First National Bank for 25 years and retired as Executive Vice President. As EVP he oversaw the building of the First National Bank Building (the tallest building in Arkansas at that time) and the installation of its first computer.
He joined Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church and served on the Little Rock School Board and later as Regional Representative for Community Concerts.
He continues his love of flight, following all new developments in air and space craft. His passion for flying is even reflected in his love of birds and birding.
Neill has 4 children (Jean Marie Ritter, Wesley Neill Hart III, Laura Lynn Mannarino and Linda Ruth Cheyne) and 14 grandchildren. He is married to and works with Karen Konarski-Hart DC in their home office in Little Rock.