Martha Anne Woodrum Zillhardt

Martha Anne Woodrum Zillhardt (1916–2002) was an American aviator. She ran a successful flight school and served as the first woman president of the Virginia Aviation Trade Council.

Martha Anne Woodrum Zillhardt
Born
Martha Anne Woodrum

(1916-09-01)September 1, 1916
Roanoke, Virginia
DiedMay 2, 2002(2002-05-02) (aged 85)
Roanoke, Virginia
NationalityAmerican
Occupationaviator
SpouseJack Zillhardt

Biography

Zillhardt née Woodrum was born on September 1, 1916, in Roanoke, Virginia.[1] She was the daughter of Clifton A. Woodrum, Sr. Martha Hancock Woodrum and Clifton A. Woodrum a United States Representative. She attended Gunston Hall School in Washington, D.C.[2]

Zillhardt earned her private pilot, instructors and commercial ratings in 1940, becoming the first woman in Virginia to earn an instrument rating pilot's license.[3][4] she went on to operate the Woodrum Flying Service flight school and charter service. In 1949 she organized the Roanoke Jaycees All State Air Show. In 1950 she won the 1st Beechcraft Bonanza trophy (pictured) in the All-Woman Transcontinental Air Race (Powder Puff Derby), finishing 18th overall.[5]

In 1953 she married Jack Zillhardt.[2] In 1960 she became president of the Virginia Aviation Trades Association, the first woman to hold that office.[3][1] In 1985 Zillhardt was inducted into the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame.[2] She died on May 2, 2002, in Roanoke.[1]

In 2018 the Virginia Capitol Foundation announced that Zillhardt's name would be included on the Virginia Women's Monument's glass Wall of Honor.[6]

References
  1. "Martha Anne Woodrum In Her Office". Historical Society of Western Virginia. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  2. "Martha Anne Woodrum Zillhardt Obituary". Press & Sun-Bulletin. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  3. Frank, John (May 24, 2002). "Zillhardt Dared to Touch the Sky". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  4. "Martha Anne Woodrum Zillhardt" (PDF). Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  5. Crane, Mardo (July 15, 1950). "Ninety-Nines Newsletter, July 15, 1950, Page 3". Smithsonian Institution Online Visual Archives, Ninety-Nines History Book Collection, Box 3, Folder 4, September 1949 - September 1950. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  6. "Wall of Honor". Virginia Women's Monument Commission. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
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