Bess Hinds Elliott Air Traffic Controller Edit info

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Bess Hinds Elliott was one of the first Female Air Traffic Controllers and she began her career after graduating from Birmingham Southern College while she was living with her 2 sisters and 3 brothers in Tarrant City a section of Birmingham Alabama. She trained in Atlanta for the CAA, The Civil Aviation Agency working in Birmingham, Al., Jackson MS., Nashville, TN. and in Raliegh Durham, NC. Then later during World War II she enlisted in the Air force as an officer (Leiutenant) in the position as a supervisor in Air Traffic Control in numerous locations around the world winding up in Orlando in the Air Force Reserve at Pine Castle Airforce Base later to become McCoy Airforce Base/ Mccoy Airport then eventually Orlando International Airport. In 1957 she continued her career in Air Traffic Controll at the then regional airport, Herndon in Orlando. During those years she spoke and met with numerous personalities such as, Walt Disney, Mickey Rooney, Arnold Palmer and many others through the late 1950's through 1973. In those years she bacame the national recruiter for women and minorities for the FAA traveling through the US speaking at High Schools and Colleges speaking about her career and the opportunities at the FAA. She also sat through the WaterGate Trials while on FAA business in Washington DC because Alexander Butterfield then incharge of the FAA by appoiment by Richard Nixon to the position. She wore many hats back during her time with the FAA before women had the equality they have today. She was a wife and a mother and he civic and social work and her belonging to Broadway United Methodist Church, Teaching at Edgewater High School (Ecology) The Eastern Star, The National Wildlife Federation, The Florida Audubon Society and Kappa Delta Pi Sorority along with her work with many other organizations. She was extreemly devoted to her job, her family and her social groups until her death from Pancreatic Cancer in 1973.