![]() ![]() He was given the Silver Circle Award for significant contributions to the TV industry for 25 years and named a Trailblazer History Maker by DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago. He has been asked for his aviation expert analysis by worldwide media entities. He was also an aviation reporter for the FOX stations in Chicago and Phoenix and for 3 years was an on-air weather forecaster/anchor/aviation analyst for WBBM-TV Chicago. In 1993 a tribute to his 25 years of service as a Chicago journalist was read into the Congressional Record of the United States. He then spent 22½ years with NBC owned station WMAQ-TV in Chicago where he hosted a live, Emmy winning weekly show “Tilmon Tempo” and was an on-air weather forecaster/anchor/aviation analyst. was instrumental in the operation of “Our People” that was on the air for four years. His own production company, Tilmon Productions, Inc. ![]() Beginning in 1968 he hosted a live weekly show “Our People" on the PBS station WTTW in Chicago, the first show of its kind in the United States, produced by, for and about black people. He also represented American Airlines in Vice-President Hubert Humphrey’s Plans for Progress Task Force on Youth Motivation, a program to enlighten minority students about expanding opportunities in industry and to inspire them to seek careers in areas they may have thought impossible. Based in Chicago, Illinois for his entire airline career he retired with the rank of Captain.ĭuring his time with American he also began a successful broadcast television career. Holding on to unwavering belief that he would take his place in a commercial airline cockpit, Jim was the 3rd African American hired to fly by American and the 5th overall in the United States. He flew the DC-6, DC-7, BAC 1-11 and Boeing 727 and was as an instructor on the BAC 1-11. His childhood dream was fulfilled 26 years after his goal had been set. Jim was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain.įrom the Army he went to fly for American Airlines as a commercial pilot for nearly 30 years. In Germany Jim was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for commanding his aviation platoon accident free for his entire tour of duty. Army as a fixed-wing airplane and helicopter pilot. He served 8 years in the Army Corps of Engineers and was stationed at bases in the U.S. After many challenges and setbacks but thanks to military ROTC programs being available, Jim began his flying career in the U.S. He decided that day to become a commercial airline pilot, a nearly impossible dream for a Black kid in 1939. Born and raised in Oklahoma, at age 5 Jim saw his first airplane as it flew overhead near his home. Jim Tilmon (James Alphonso Tilmon, Sr.) lived from Juntil January 16, 2021. ![]()
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