Originally published in 2001
One of the two men credited with the first U.S. freefall baton pass was named to the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame. Induction ceremonies were held for Charlie Hillard at the Lone Star Flight Museum in Galveston, Texas in November.
Hillard is perhaps better known among the larger community of aviators for his long-time presence on the airshow circuit and his successful career as an aerobatic champion. He made the baton pass on July 1, 1958, over Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, with Steve Snyder, heralding the new activity of freefall relative work in this country. (It had been done in France and Canada only shortly before). He was killed in April 1996 at the Sun ‘n’ Fun aviation convention in Lakeland, Florida, during a freak taxiing accident.
Source: Parachutist, December 2000