About
Pilot who came up during an era when women, especially women in aviation, were not accepted by society at large as independent or suitable for business ventures. She became the head of the Small Aircraft Division of their joint company: the Elano Corporation. She continued to log pilot hours in her twilight years earning commercial, instrument, and multi-engine ratings. She also flew rescue missions. In her spare time, she was an incredibly generous philanthropist; her and her husband having donated millions of dollars to charities.
Before Fame
She began her career as a dancer for both the San Francisco Ballet as well as working as a nightclub performer. When an injury kept her from dancing professionally, she began modeling and performing overseas with the USO. Her days in aviation began as a promoter/pirate at the Golden Gate International Exposition promoting the new-fangled public transportation option of aviation.
Trivia
She first garnered global attention when posing with New York City mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in 1938 when he forced her to put a coat over her skimpy outfit. Afterwards, she was labeled the most photographed woman in the world after the photographs appeared in that February's edition of Time magazine. She was the first female president of the Board of Trustees for the National Aviation Hall of Fame, having served on the institution's board for more than a decade. And, in 2008, she was inducted as a Living Legend of Aviation.
Family Life
She finally settled down and married her husband Ervin J. Nutter in 1965. They were married until his death in 2000, she outlived him by 20 years. They met, and later lived together in Ohio. They met when she flew out multiple times to evaluate a plane he had for sale. She turned down the plane, but accepted his proposal of marriage. Controversially waiting until she was 50 years of age to marry, this meant that her and Ervin never had any children.
Associated With
In 2006, Laura Bush, at the time First Lady of the United States, presented her with the Ford Theatre Lincoln Medal that honors individuals that have lived a lifetime amounting to the same level of prestigious legacy and mettle as did Lincoln.
