The late Dwane L. Wallace has been elected for enshrinement at the National Aviation Hall of Fame and will be honored at a formal ceremony on Friday, Oct. 4, in Dayton, Ohio.

After 41 years with Cessna Aircraft Co., Wallace retired in 1975 as its chairman and CEO. During the Depression, Wallace revived the stagnant company, at times using money won by air racing to meet payroll.

After the company expanded to meet WWII military aircraft demand, Wallace directed Cessna’s development and growth of extensive corporate and general aviation product lines. He was a founder and first chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.

Wallace, with his late wife Velma, established a fund at Wichita State University to support scholarships for engineering students as well as the purchase of equipment and any other special needs of the College of Engineering. The Wallace Endowment, established in 1976, has awarded more than $3 million dollars in scholarships to hundreds of students in that time.

A group of Wallace Scholars and Wallace Scholar alumni will attend the ceremony in support of the Wallace family. Students include Joshua Countryman, Andrew Holup, Alex Hunt and Brandon Martin. Alumni include WSU College of Engineering scholarship coordinator Samantha Corcoran, Errick Robles, Kevin Johnson and David Lovejoy. Vice President for Academic Affairs Anthony Vizzini also will attend.

Often referred to as “America’s Oscar Night of Aviation,” the black-tie ceremony is open to the public and reservations are available by advance purchase from the NAHF. See information about the ceremony.

For more information about this event, contact Samantha Corcoran, scholarship coordinator, at 316-978-6301.