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Local Men Nominated for Aviation Hall of Fame Three Colorado Springs men, one of them deceased, were nominated Friday to the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame. Nominations were made by members of Colorado Aviation's Historical Society at the group's meeting in Denver. Nominated were the late J. Don Alexander, his brother, D. M. Alexander, 1830 Wood Ave., and James F. Donahue, 1814 N. Royer St. Their names, were among 20 submitted for consideration. Alexander, who died in 1955, and his brother founded the now defunct Alexander Aircraft Corp. in Englewood in the 1920s. Their "Eaglerock Bullet" became the racing champion of the early 1930s and portions of its design were borrowed by Glenn L. Martin to build the fastest medium bomber of the era. More than a thousand Eaglerocks were built and sold throughout the U.S. between 1927 and 1930 and the firm became for a time the largest commercial plane manufacturer in the U.S. Donahue, a barnstorming parachute jumper whose feats resulted in his nickname of "Dare Devil Jimmy," was nominated for his contribution in the field of promoting aviation. He dedicated many airports in the southern part of the state and officiated at exhibition meets. At one time, he set a world's altitude record jump in Colorado Springs. Named to the Hall of Fame last year from here was Reginald Sinclaire, 12 Pourtales Road, who, as a fighter pilot in World War I served in the famed Lafayette Escadrille. It was the first year the society had established the honors. from Gazette Telegraph May 24, 1970 |