Political Quotes

“on behalf of myself and Congressmen Glenn Poshard and Jerry Costello, I rise to honor Capt. William R. (Bill) Norwood of Carbondale, IL, for his distinguished career and his contributions to Illinois and the Nation. Captain Norwood is retiring after more than 30 years with United Airlines. I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge his significant achievements. Bill Norwood's life has been one of great individual achievements, which have helped to pave the way for others to follow. He was the first black pilot hired by United Airlines, and the first to reach the rank of captain. Today, there are 236 black pilots at United Airlines who have followed in Bill Norwood's footsteps. He was born in Centralia, IL, where he attended Lincoln Elementary and Centralia Township High School. He started working at the age of 10, selling newspapers, and worked with his father in carpentry. He graduated from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale with a degree in chemistry, where he was also the first black quarterback on the football team, and went on to earn a master's in business administration from the University of Chicago. He was hired by United Airlines in 1965 and has flown all the cockpit positions and many different airplanes, beginning with the 727 and ending with the DC-10. He was inspired to become a pilot by a teacher in grammar school who had flown with the Tuskegee Airmen black fighter squadron. He joined the ROTC and served 6 years in the U.S.…”