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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release June 14, 2000

               PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES TWO MEMBERS TO THE
             FIRST FLIGHT CENTENNIAL FEDERAL ADVISORY BOARD

     The President today announced his intent to appoint Patty Wagstaff

and Tom D. Crouch to the First Flight Centennial Federal Advisory Board.

Ms. Patty Wagstaff, of St. Augustine, Florida, began her career in aviation in 1979 and since that time has flown airshows and competitions throughout North America and internationally. Ms. Wagstaff is a six-time member of the U.S. Aerobatic Team, a three-time U.S. National Aerobatic Champion, the 1993 IAC Champion and a six time recipient of the "First Lady of Aerobatics" Betty Skelton Award. Ms. Wagstaff is also the first woman to win the title of U.S. National Aerobatic Champion, and she won gold, silver and bronze medals in Olympic-level international aerobatics competition. In 1994, Ms. Wagstaff's airplane, the BFGoodrich Aerospace Extra 260, went on display in the Smithsonian Institution's National Air & Space Museum's exhibit "Pioneers of Flight" Gallery.

Dr. Tom D. Crouch, of Fairfax, Virginia, is one of the nation's leading authorities on the Wright Brothers and the author of several award-winning books on the early history of flight. An employee of the Smithsonian Institution since 1974, Dr. Crouch has served both at the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) and at the National Museum of American History (NMAH) in a variety of curatorial and administrative posts. He is presently employed as Senior Curator of Aeronautics with the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Dr. Crouch received a B.A. in history from Ohio University; an M.A. in history from Miami University and a Ph.D. in American history from Ohio State University.

The Centennial of Flight Commemoration Act of 1998 (P. L. 105-389) establishes the First Flight Centennial Federal Advisory Board (FFCFAB). The purpose of the FFCFAB is to advise the Centennial Flight Commission (CFC) on matters related to assisting in commemoration of the centennial of powered flight and the achievements of Orville and Wilbur Wright. December 12, 2003 is the 100th anniversary of the Wright brother's achievement.

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