Olive Ann Beech
1903-1993
Chairman, CEO, and co-Founder of Beech Aircraft Corporation
“There are stories that take tragedy to unearth. When the world bears witness to great ability, new awareness changes the narrative of today and rewrites the influence of the past.” So begins a tribute from the American Business History Center to an unlikely, for its time, pioneer of the aviation industry: Olive Ann Beech, co-founder of Beech Aircraft with her husband Walter Beech. Mrs. Beech took full control of the company at her husband’s untimely death in 1950, serving as its Chairman and CEO for 30 years.
She made Beech Aircraft into one of the iconic brands of American private aircraft. One of its most enduring offerings owes it success to her willingness to bet against the conventional wisdom that jets would quickly replace propeller driven business aircraft. She sensed an underserved market niche and created one of the most popular turboprop aircraft for the corporate aviation market: the legendary Beechcraft KingAir.
The Beechcraft KingAir
The KingAir’s success (it was in continuous production from 1963 until 2021) was just one of many accomplishments. Most notably, during her tenure the company’s annual revenue grew from $16 million in 1950 to $275 million. She sold the company to Raytheon Corporation in 1980 for $800 million.
Her achievements would be remarkable today, but in a different era often hostile to any woman aspiring to more than a clerical position, they are astounding. It’s wonder she is known as “The First Lady of Aviation.” Take a few minutes to learn about “Olive Ann beech: Queen of the Aircraft Industry”…..and share the article with a young woman considering a career in business.
