ALABAMA AVIATION HALL OF FAME
ROBERT P. HUDGENS
Bob Hudgens was born January 7, 1915 in Luverne, Crenshaw County, Alabama.
By 1941, he had spent eleven years working in the retail drug business, four years in the electric utility business, graduated from Woodlawn High School, and had a short stint at Birmingham Southern. His first chance to get into aviation came in 1941, when he volunteered for the U. S. Army Enlisted Reserve, and started flight training at Auburn. After going through all the Civil Pilot Training, he worked as a flight instructor in Pre-Cadet contract schools in Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. In April, 1944, he was called to active duty and volunteered for the Glider Flight Program, which included Basic Training three times and Combat Basic two more times. The Glider Program took him to Wichita Falls, Lubbock, Maxton, North Carolina, and then assignment to the Air Corps Troop Carrier Command at the Sedaiia Army Air Base in Missouri. After discharge in September, 1945, Hudgens and Charles Womack opened the doors of Montgomery Aviation Corporation on October 12, 1945 and started operating a fixed base operation for four local shareholders. Womack was the manager and Hudgens the flight instructor, charter pilot, line man, and janitor.
He says that most of the important things in his life for the past forty one years have been closely associated with this general aviation business. The corporation owned three used J3 Cubs and a used Taylorcraft, a small wooden office building and the use of a pasture on Hall Brothers Dairy Farm which was named the Norman Bridge Airport.
Operation was started on Dannelly Field as soon as it was opened for commercial use, in 1946.
Hudgens participated in organizing and producing a very successful airshow at the Norman Bridge Airport in 1946. In 1948, he was chairman of the Southern States Air Carnival, sponsored by the Jaycees at Dannelly Field.He became president of Montgomery Aviation in January of 1949. In 1965, the company was invited by the City of Huntsville to become the fixed base operator on the "Old Airport", and Huntsville Aviation Corporation was established for this purpose. When the new Huntsville Jetport came into being, Huntsville Aviation became the operator on that excellent new airport. William R. Whatley has managed that operation from it's beginning and has earned an outstanding reputation in the aviation community locally and nationally.
In 1966, Montgomery Aviation acquired controlling interest in Lackey Aero, which later became Birmingham Aviation. In 1973, it was sold to the Hulse family and became part of Hangar One. Montgomery Aviation became a dealer for Piper and Beechcraft in 1945 and was a Piper distributor from 1962 to 1983. In 1967, Montgomery Aviation was one of the first firms in the nation to provide rental cars at the airport.
The Company has received national and regional recognition numerous times for service to the aviation public. In 1961, it was given the "Outstanding Member Award" of the National Air Taxi Conference.In 1967, it received the "Outstanding Service Award" by this organization. In 1974, Montgomery Aviation was one of five firms in the nation to receive the National Business Aircraft Association "Commendation Certificate for Outstanding Service to Business Aviation." The Company has been recognized in several national and area publications over the years, such as the Birmingham News Magazine, Alabama Journal, Sunday Magazine, Standard Oil National News, Chevron International News Magazine, South Magazine, Airport Services, Airport World, Alabama Chamber of Commerce Magazine, Alabama News Magazine and others.
Bob Hudgens served on the Board of the National Aviation Trades Association for four years and was president of the National Air Taxi Conference in 1967.
He has been active in the Air Force Association, President of the Montgomery Chapter in 1972, selected "Man of the Year" by the Alabama chapter in 1973, and received the "Medal of Merit" in 1974. He has also been very proud to serve on the board of this Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame and was honored to be it's Chairman in 1984. He has served as President or Chairman of the Montgomery Rotary Club, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, Montgomery Aero Club, Air Service Operators of Alabama, Salvation Army Advisory Board and the First United Methodist Church Administrative Board, and has been active in many aviation organizations. He has written several articles on general aviation which have been published locally and nationally.
Montgomery Aviation is today the oldest fixed base operation in the state and Hudgens has probably been active in the F.B.O. business longer than any other individual in Alabama at this time. In forty one years, the Company has trained more civilian pilots and flown more passenger charter miles than any other aviation operation in the state.
For his outstanding contribution to the development of private aviation in the State of Alabama, it is only fitting that the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame recognize Robert Pierce Hudgens as a distinguished member of the induction class of 1986.
By 1941, he had spent eleven years working in the retail drug business, four years in the electric utility business, graduated from Woodlawn High School, and had a short stint at Birmingham Southern. His first chance to get into aviation came in 1941, when he volunteered for the U. S. Army Enlisted Reserve, and started flight training at Auburn. After going through all the Civil Pilot Training, he worked as a flight instructor in Pre-Cadet contract schools in Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. In April, 1944, he was called to active duty and volunteered for the Glider Flight Program, which included Basic Training three times and Combat Basic two more times. The Glider Program took him to Wichita Falls, Lubbock, Maxton, North Carolina, and then assignment to the Air Corps Troop Carrier Command at the Sedaiia Army Air Base in Missouri. After discharge in September, 1945, Hudgens and Charles Womack opened the doors of Montgomery Aviation Corporation on October 12, 1945 and started operating a fixed base operation for four local shareholders. Womack was the manager and Hudgens the flight instructor, charter pilot, line man, and janitor.
He says that most of the important things in his life for the past forty one years have been closely associated with this general aviation business. The corporation owned three used J3 Cubs and a used Taylorcraft, a small wooden office building and the use of a pasture on Hall Brothers Dairy Farm which was named the Norman Bridge Airport.
Operation was started on Dannelly Field as soon as it was opened for commercial use, in 1946.
Hudgens participated in organizing and producing a very successful airshow at the Norman Bridge Airport in 1946. In 1948, he was chairman of the Southern States Air Carnival, sponsored by the Jaycees at Dannelly Field.He became president of Montgomery Aviation in January of 1949. In 1965, the company was invited by the City of Huntsville to become the fixed base operator on the "Old Airport", and Huntsville Aviation Corporation was established for this purpose. When the new Huntsville Jetport came into being, Huntsville Aviation became the operator on that excellent new airport. William R. Whatley has managed that operation from it's beginning and has earned an outstanding reputation in the aviation community locally and nationally.
In 1966, Montgomery Aviation acquired controlling interest in Lackey Aero, which later became Birmingham Aviation. In 1973, it was sold to the Hulse family and became part of Hangar One. Montgomery Aviation became a dealer for Piper and Beechcraft in 1945 and was a Piper distributor from 1962 to 1983. In 1967, Montgomery Aviation was one of the first firms in the nation to provide rental cars at the airport.
The Company has received national and regional recognition numerous times for service to the aviation public. In 1961, it was given the "Outstanding Member Award" of the National Air Taxi Conference.In 1967, it received the "Outstanding Service Award" by this organization. In 1974, Montgomery Aviation was one of five firms in the nation to receive the National Business Aircraft Association "Commendation Certificate for Outstanding Service to Business Aviation." The Company has been recognized in several national and area publications over the years, such as the Birmingham News Magazine, Alabama Journal, Sunday Magazine, Standard Oil National News, Chevron International News Magazine, South Magazine, Airport Services, Airport World, Alabama Chamber of Commerce Magazine, Alabama News Magazine and others.
Bob Hudgens served on the Board of the National Aviation Trades Association for four years and was president of the National Air Taxi Conference in 1967.
He has been active in the Air Force Association, President of the Montgomery Chapter in 1972, selected "Man of the Year" by the Alabama chapter in 1973, and received the "Medal of Merit" in 1974. He has also been very proud to serve on the board of this Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame and was honored to be it's Chairman in 1984. He has served as President or Chairman of the Montgomery Rotary Club, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, Montgomery Aero Club, Air Service Operators of Alabama, Salvation Army Advisory Board and the First United Methodist Church Administrative Board, and has been active in many aviation organizations. He has written several articles on general aviation which have been published locally and nationally.
Montgomery Aviation is today the oldest fixed base operation in the state and Hudgens has probably been active in the F.B.O. business longer than any other individual in Alabama at this time. In forty one years, the Company has trained more civilian pilots and flown more passenger charter miles than any other aviation operation in the state.
For his outstanding contribution to the development of private aviation in the State of Alabama, it is only fitting that the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame recognize Robert Pierce Hudgens as a distinguished member of the induction class of 1986.