Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame Spotlight: Anthony E. Dowd
Anthony E. Dowd
Anthony E. Dowd • Richmond, Virginia • Inducted: 1996
Inducted in 1996, Anthony E. “Tony” Dowd began his aviation career as a tail gunner on B-24s during WWII. He flew nearly 100 missions in the China-Burma-India Theater. During these missions he bailed out twice and fell out once while attempting to manually extend his B-24s nose wheel. After the war, he completed his education at the University of Denver. In 1953, he became Assistant Manager of Richmond’s Airport, Airport Manager in 1957 and Executive Director in 1976.
During his 35-year tenure, he helped the airport grow from a small division under the City’s Bureau of Operations in the Department of Public Works to a multi-governmental commission named the capital Region Airport Commission. Dowd helped organize the Virginia Airport Operators Council and represented Richmond to the council until he retired. He played a leadership role in the Southeast Airport Managers Association and the American Association of Airport Executives.
In 1982, Dowd was appointed by Governor Baliles to serve on the Virginia Aviation Board. He was re-appointed by Governor Wilder in 1990 and served as Chairman of the Board until July 1994. He played an important role in locating the Virginia Aviation Museum at Richmond International Airport.
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Obituary:
DOWD, Anthony E. Sr., passed away on July 18, 2015. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Margaret Kephart Dowd. He is also survived by four daughters, Mary Ellen Dowd Helme, Cathy Dowd Pemberton, both of Richmond, Suzy Dowd Mulford (Stan) of Culpeper and Maggie Dowd Einspahr (Owen) of Fredericksburg; one son, Anthony Dowd Jr. of Richmond; 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Tony was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1924 and spent much of his childhood in Virginia. He started high school at Benedictine College Preparatory, but was drafted into the United States Army during World War II in 1943. He was assigned to the Army Air Corps (later the United States Air Force) and became a tail-gunner on a B-24 bomber. He flew dozens of combat and supply missions in the China-Burma-India Theater. On one training mission, he had to attempt to manually extend his B-24’s nose wheel, and had to bail out over the Gulf of Mexico. On another mission, his plane was shot down over Hankow, China, and he had to bail out. He didn’t much like flying after that. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal.
After the war, he completed his education at the University of Denver and in 1953, became Assistant Manager of Richard E. Byrd Flying Field. In 1957, he became Airport Manager. In 1962, he became the first Airport Manager in the Commonwealth of Virginia to become an accredited airport executive by successfully passing an oral board and writing a thesis required by the American Association of Airport Executives. This accomplishment entitled him to use the abbreviation AAE after his signature on correspondence and official documents. He was named Executive Director of Richmond International Airport in 1976. During his 35-year tenure, he helped the airport grow from a small division under the City’s Bureau of Operations in the Department of Public Works to a multi-governmental commission named the Capital Region Airport Commission.
Tony helped organize the Virginia Airport Operators Council and represented Richmond to the council until he retired. He played a leadership role in the Southeast Airport Managers Association and the American Association of Airport Executives. In 1982, he was appointed by Governor Baliles to serve on the Virginia Aviation Board. He was re-appointed by Governor Wilder in 1990 and served as Chairman of the Board until July 1994. He played an important role in locating the Virginia Aviation Museum at Richmond International Airport. For many years, Tony sang with the Tobaccoland Chorus (now The Virginians).
Tony made ten visits to Ireland with his wife, and Bantry Bay was their favorite place. His most important goal was to be a good example to his children. He succeeded.