Gordon Nelson

Gordon Nelson '50 (Aviation) is a proud alumnus of the Lewis University aviation program and was a pilot for Eastern Air Lines for 33 years.
Gordon's love of aviation and Lewis University recently inspired him to establish the "Captain Gordon Nelson Aviation Scholarship." This $1000 per-year scholarship, which will last four years, will be awarded to a full-time student (junior or senior), pursuing a degree in the Department of Aviation, as well as their commercial pilot license.

Gordon feels very strongly about giving back as he received help from others during his time at Lewis University.

"My folks didn't have a lot of money. When I worked in the kitchen at Lewis, I was able to get all the food I needed. I also worked as a janitor and Lewis paid me a few dollars an hour to clean rooms and so on. So basically I got my flying money from working as a janitor and in the kitchen at Lewis.

"My feeling is I'm looking to help a student that would aspire to do what I did. We're going to need more pilots, so many are starting to reach retirement age."

Before Gordon started his career as a pilot for Eastern Air Lines, he joined the United States Air Force in 1952 during the Korean War. He was stationed at Amarillo Air Force Base. While at Amarillo, Gordon trained crew chiefs on the maintenance of the B-47 medium jet bomber. Gordon left the Air Force in 1956 to start his career as a pilot. Gordon remained with Eastern Air Lines all the way up until his retirement in 1989.
Gordon has come back to campus a few times since his days at Lewis and is amazed by all the wonderful changes on campus. Gordon is looking forward to attending the Golden Flyers Luncheon during Homecoming & Family Day on Saturday, September 29, 2012.

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