Lawrence Clifton Elliott
Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas
Marker Inscription
(November 16, 1901 - May 15, 1970) Aviation pioneer Lawrence C. Elliot was born in Greenville, Texas. During high school, Elliott exhibited early aviation talent when he built an experimental airplane. He attended Texas A&M University, participating in the Reserve Officers Training Corps. After graduating in 1924, Elliott was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps and trained at Brooks Field and Kelly Field in San Antonio. He earned awards in air races and became a U.S. Army flight Instructor. In 1928, Elliot began a 35-year career with the Aeronautics Branch of the U.S. Department of Commerce (Later the Civil Aeronautics Administration). Stationed at Southwest Regional Headquarters in Fort Worth for 25 years, he was instrumental in marking domestic flight routes, developing weather communication broadcast techniques, establishing standards for airplane maintenance and inspection, and recommending air facility safety modifications. During World War II, Elliott was regional manager of the U.S. Civil Aviation System. He received awards for exceptional service and impact on international aviation in 1953. Elliott was married to Mildred Leonhart Reiter (d. 1963). Their former home at 3 Chase Court was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1983. (1991)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Born in Greenville, Texas, in 1901, Lawrence Clifton Elliott showed his knack for flight by building an experimental airplane in high school. After training as an Army pilot, he began a 35-year federal aviation career in 1928, based for 25 years at Fort Worth, where he helped mark domestic flight routes, develop aviation weather broadcasting, and set standards for aircraft maintenance and safety. During World War II he served as a regional manager of the U.S. Civil Aviation System.
Why it matters
Elliott was one of the unsung engineers of everyday air travel, building the invisible infrastructure of routes, weather reports, and safety rules that made American commercial aviation possible.
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Themes & tags
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