Denver International Airport Honors Aviation Pioneers Ed Dwight and Bessie Coleman with Hall of Equity Dedication
Denver, CO – In a monumental tribute to aviation history, Denver International Airport (DIA) has announced the naming of its “Hall of Equity” after legendary aviators Ed Dwight and Bessie Coleman. The honor was revealed during a ceremony on Thursday attended by local aviation enthusiasts and city officials, including Denver Mayor Mike Johnston.
At 91 years old, Dwight, an African American aviation pioneer who once aimed to be the first Black astronaut, expressed his overwhelming gratitude, stating, “There is no chance in heck that any person with more than three or four brain cells is not overwhelmed.” The Hall of Equity will be part of the Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation (CEEA), currently under construction on the fourth floor of DIA’s Westin Hotel, and is projected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Bessie Coleman, who tragically died in a plane crash in 1926, was represented at the ceremony by her great niece, Gigi Coleman, who recounted her ancestor’s unwavering determination to pave the way for future aviators. Coleman was the first African American woman and Native American to earn a pilot’s license and famously advocated for the inclusion of African Americans in aviation.
The CEEA will serve as a dynamic training facility accommodating approximately 300 people. DIA CEO Phil Washington emphasized the center’s mission to inspire future generations of aviators, acknowledging the profound influence of figures like Dwight and Coleman. “Their lives, their careers, have provided incredible inspiration,” he stated, recognizing their contributions to breaking down barriers in aviation.
This dedication marks a significant step toward increasing equity in a historically exclusive field, celebrating the legacies of two remarkable trailblazers in aviation history.