Illinois State Library

Individual Author Record

General Information Name:  William R. Norwood   Pen Name: None Genre: Non-Fiction Audience: Adult; Born: 1936 in Centralia, Illinois -- William R. Norwood/SIU Alumni Hall of Fame -- http://www.chem.siu.edu/alumni/hall-of-fame/norwood.php -- William R. Norwood on WorldCat -- http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=william+r.++norwood

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Illinois Connection

Norwood was born and raised in Centralia. He graduated from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale with his BA in 1959 and the University of Chicago with his MBA in 1974.

Biographical and Professional Information

William "Bill" Norwood is a Lincoln Laureate and a retired United Airlines captain. He was the first African American pilot for United Airlines. He flew the "friendly skies" for 31 years before retiring in 1996. Bill, who was in ROTC at Southern Illinois University, flew the B-52 in the Air Force. His inspiration was his elementary school principal in his small southern Illinois town of Centralia, who was a pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen in World War II.

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Speaking Engagements

Speaking Engagement Availability (Yes)

Selected Titles At Your Library

Cleared for takeoff : ISBN: 1457523604. OCLC Number: 869904949 Dog Ear Pub.,. . A memoir by the first African American pilot hired by United Airlines.