Year: 1929

January 30-February 1. John J. Ide, European representative of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, in Dayton for an inspection tour of Wright Field, is guest of Orville.

February 4. New Castle, Ind., honors memory of Wilbur with community banquet, Indiana Governor Harry Leslie is among guests, and Capt. Benjamin B. Lipsner, pioneer air mail pilot, delivers principal address.

February 11. Indiana State Representatives Herbert H. Evans and Charles M. Trowbridge introduce House bill 321 to create the Wilbur Wright Memorial Commission, to authorize the commission to accept and maintain the birthplace of Wilbur Wright, to accept appropriations which may be made by the federal government for this purpose, and to make an appropriation. The bill was passed by the Indiana House and Senate and signed by Indiana Governor Ed Jackson on March 7.

February 27. Distinguished Flying Crosses awarded Wilbur and Orville by Act of Congress, December 18, 1928, presented to Orville Wright by Secretary of War Dwight F. Davis in Washington with high officers of the Army and other branches of government in attendance. The citation reads: "Mr. Orville Wright, by his vision, perseverance, courage, and skill, in collaboration with his brother Wilbur Wright, designed, constructed, and operated the airplane, which at Kitty Hawk, N.C., on December 17, 1903, made the first successful flight under its own power and carrying a human operator, thereby making possible the achievements which are now stirring the emotions and pride of the world."

March 3. Katharine Wright Haskell dies of pneumonia at her home in Kansas City, Mo. Orville and brother Lorin are present at her death. The body was brought to Dayton on March 5 and funeral services were held at the home of Orville on March 6. Burial was in the family plot in Woodland Cemetery beside her brother Wilbur.

March 13. Ohio State Senator Miles S. Kuhns of Dayton introduces S.J. Res. No. 23 in Ohio Senate paying tribute to Wright brothers. The resolution was approved by the Ohio Senate on March 19 and by the House March 21.

April 3. Orville and Wilbur tended first official recognition by the state of Ohio as coinventors of the heavier-than-air flying machine in ceremony at Columbus, Ohio. Ohio Governor Myers Y. Cooper presents Orville with a testimonial voted by Ohio General Assembly on April 1.

April 9. Society of Automotive Engineers awards for the first time the Wright Brothers Medal, which is to be given annually to the author of the best paper dealing with aerodynamics, structural theory, or research presented during the year at a meeting of the society.

April 16. Dayton Kiwanis Club donates and dedicates bronze tablet showing a life-size profile of the Wright brothers, designed by Chester E. Nicodemus of the Dayton Art Institute, to the Wilbur Wright Junior High School. The inscription reads: "In commemoration of the achievement of Wilbur and Orville Wright-First to Fly." A luncheon at which Orville was the guest of honor preceded the ceremony.

April 22. Orville guest of Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs at All-Dayton program and dinner at Memorial Hall in Dayton.

May 1. Daniel Guggenheim Medal Board of Award votes to award the Daniel Guggenheim Medal to Orville "for design and construction, with his brother now deceased, of the first successful engine-propelled airplane."

May 29. Orville attends third aeronautic meeting of American Society of Mechanical Engineers in St. Louis, Mo.

October 21. Orville is among scientists and inventors invited by Henry and Edsel Ford to opening of Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Mich., which also marks 50th anniversary of the invention of the electric light by Thomas A. Edison. At banquet for invited guests Orville is seated next to Will Rogers and Edsel Ford.

November 15. Orville attends launching at Wilmington, Del., of the Lotusland, diesel yacht built for his friend Col. Edward A. Deeds.

November 22. Wilbur Wright Junior High School in Cleveland dedicated, with Orville as honor guest.

December 17. Rivanna Garden Club of Charlottesville, Va., erects marker at birthplace of Susan Koerner Wright, mother of Wrights, at Hillsboro, Loudon County, Va.