Bite of History November: Gretchen Reed, aviatrix, story of a female pilot

Gretchen Reed has lived an interesting life. She has been a licensed private pilot since 1968 but is now inactive due to medical interruptions. Gretchen taught English at Riverside High School (RHS) from 1967 – ´95. She established an aviation ground school at RHS in ´69, which she taught until her retirement.

In 1977 she and husband Charles began developing Pheasant Run Airport and Aviation Museum on 68 acres they had purchased in LeRoy Township. After his death in ´08, she and her ex-student and close friend Chris Joles began expanding the facilities and organizing the antique airplanes and artifacts until the place became a formal museum. It now includes a collection of classic cars as well. It has become a “community center,” hosting a variety of events and visitors that number into the thousands.

She was inducted into the RHS Hall of Fame in 2001 and the International Forest of Friendship Aviation Honorary in ´03 and was named a “Woman of Achievement” by Lakeland Community College in ´17.

Light lunch will be served.

Members $20 Non members $24

Host or Publisher Lake County Historical Society