While researching different branches of my family tree, I discovered that four aviation pioneers (Orville Wright, Wilbur Wright, Amelia Earhart, and Neil Armstrong) are related to me or my wife. The Wright Brothers (my distant cousins) were American aviation pioneers generally credited with inventing, building, and flying the world's first successful airplane in 1903. Amelia Earhart (my distant cousin) was an American aviation pioneer who became one of the most celebrated figures of early flight. In 1928, Earhart was the first female passenger to cross the Atlantic by airplane. In 1932, she became the first woman to make a nonstop solo transatlantic flight. In 1937, Earhart (and her navigator Fred Noonan) disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to become the first female pilot to circumnavigate the world. Neil Armstrong (my wife's distant cousin) was a naval aviator, test pilot and American astronaut. In 1966, he became NASA's first civilian astronaut to fly in space. In 1969, Armstrong became the first astronaut to step on the surface of the Moon. Raymond C. Wilson is a military historian, filmmaker, and amateur genealogist. During his military career as an enlisted soldier, warrant officer, and commissioned officer in the U.S. Army for twenty-one years, Wilson served in a number of interesting assignments both stateside and overseas. He had the honor of serving as Administrative Assistant to Brigadier General George S. Patton (son of famed WWII general) at the Armor School; Administrative Assistant to General of the Army Omar Nelson Bradley at the Pentagon; and Military Assistant to the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army at the Pentagon. In 1984, Wilson was nominated by the U.S. Army Adjutant General Branch to serve as a White House Fellow in Washington, D.C.While on active duty, Wilson authored numerous Army regulations as well as articles for professional journals including 1775 (Adjutant General Corps Regimental Association magazine), Program Manager (Journal of the Defense Systems Management College), and Army Trainer magazine. He also wrote, directed, and produced three training films for Army-wide distribution. He is an associate member of the Military Writers Society of America.Following his retirement from the U.S. Army in 1992, Wilson made a career change to the education field. He served as Vice President of Admissions and Development at Florida Air Academy; Vice President of Admissions and Community Relations at Oak Ridge Military Academy; Adjunct Professor of Corresponding Studies at U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; and Senior Academic Advisor at Eastern Florida State College.While working at Florida Air Academy, Wilson wrote articles for several popular publications including the Vincent Curtis Educational Register and the South Florida Parenting Magazine. At Oak Ridge Military Academy, Wilson co-wrote and co-directed two teen reality shows that appeared on national television (Nickelodeon & ABC Family Channel). As an Adjunct Professor at U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Wilson taught effective communications and military history for eighteen years. At Eastern Florida State College, Wilson wrote, directed, and produced a documentary entitled "Wounded Warriors - Their Struggle for Independence" for the Chi Nu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa.Since retiring from Eastern Florida State College, Wilson has devoted countless hours working on book manuscripts.
