Kentucky Aviation Hall of Fame to induct 3 honorees on Nov. 1

LEXINGTON, Ky. –  The Kentucky Aviation Hall of Fame will honor three distinguished individuals and one exceptional organization at its 2025 induction ceremony on Nov. 1 at 5 p.m.

This year’s honorees represent the best of Kentucky’s aviation heritage, from pioneering military service to groundbreaking achievements in air racing and aerospace manufacturing.

2025 Inductees:
Major Ralph Waldo Emerson Webb will be enshrined posthumously for his remarkable 23-year military career spanning over 23,000 flight hours. Born in Whitesburg, Kentucky in 1918, Webb served as a Hump Pilot during World War II, flying dangerous combat missions over the Himalayas in the China-Burma-India Theater. He later became a distinguished flight instructor and Aircraft Commander during the Cold War, training pilots and shaping operational standards across multiple Air Force bases. His decorations include the Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.

Brig. Gen. Fred F. Bradley will be honored for his 38 years of service in the Air Force and Air National Guard, logging over 4,000 flight hours. The Providence, Kentucky native served as a fighter pilot, flew combat missions in Vietnam, and commanded the 123rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. Beyond aviation, Bradley served 16 years in the Kentucky State Senate, championing veterans’ legislation and proving that service extends far beyond the cockpit, as well as being a leading the thoroughbred breeder of Graded winner, Brass Hat and a two-time champion female sprinter, Groupie Doll

Sheila Farmer Wagner will be enshrined as the first and only Kentuckian to win the prestigious Air Race Classic. In 1997, Wagner and her copilot Sophia Payton won the grueling 2,700-mile race from Boise, Idaho to Knoxville, Tennessee. A member of the Ninety-Nines international organization of women pilots, Wagner logged over 1,200 flight hours and inspired generations of women aviators before her passing in 2011.

2025 Kentucky Aviation Achievement Award:

Aerospace Composite Solutions of Morgantown will receive the Aviation Achievement Award for excellence in aerospace manufacturing. Founded in 2009, ACS recently relocated to a state-of-the-art $18 million, 150,000-square- foot facility, producing advanced composite materials for military and aerospace applications. With an exceptional 8% employee turnover rate and strong community ties, ACS demonstrates that world-class aerospace innovation thrives in rural Kentucky.

Tickets for the November 1 ceremony are available until Oct. 24. For more information, visit aviationky.org.