Madison, Wisconsin – Three Madison-area pilots have been awarded the prestigious “Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award” by the Federal Aviation Administration: Jim Boxrud of McFarland, Wis.; Tom Thomas of Madison, Wis.; and Wynne Williams of Cottage Grove, Wis. The Master Pilot Award represents the achievement of 50 or more years of continuous and safe piloting.
The awards were presented at a dinner held at Middleton – Morey Field (C29) on April 15, 2025. Presenting the awards was Jurg Grossenbacher, FAASTeam Program Manager with the FAA Flight Standards District Office in Milwaukee, Wis.
“I find it a privilege to be able to celebrate along with the recipients receiving the most prestigious award that the FAA issues to pilots or mechanics that dedicated their lives to safe, professional conduct for over 50 years,” said Mr. Grossenbacher.
Jim Boxrud began flying in Crystal, Minnesota in 1965. He became a certified flight instructor at age 19 and holds an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate, as well as single-engine land, multi-engine land, and single-engine sea ratings.
Boxrud worked as an instructor and charter pilot for Frickelton Aviation in Madison before starting his airline career, where he flew Beech 18s for Lake Geneva Airways, and Swearingen Metroliners, de Havilland DHC Dash-7s, and British Aerospace 146s with Air Wisconsin.
Boxrud said of the award, “I am thankful for this recognition and for a rewarding career in aviation.”
Tom Thomas – a Madison, Wisconsin native — began flying as an Air Force ROTC cadet at the University of Wisconsin- Madison in 1964. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1966, he began a 28-year career in the Air Force and Wisconsin Air National Guard. That career would include piloting the Boeing KC-135 and KC-97 aerial refueling tankers, the Fairchild A-10A Thunderbolt II (aka the “Warthog”), and the General Dynamics F-16D Fighting Falcon. His rating as USAF Command Pilot is one of seven civilian and military pilot ratings he has earned.
In 1973, Thomas began a 32-year career with the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics. During that time, he was involved in, oversaw or was responsible for administering aviation safety, aircraft registration, airport management and aviation education programs. Thomas was inducted into the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame in 2007. Thomas remarked, “I started my flying career at Morey Field, and I am gratified to be receiving this award at this airport tonight.”
Wynne Williams soloed at Anoka County Airport in Blaine, Minnesota in conjunction with a University of Minnesota ROTC aviation program. He attended undergraduate pilot training at Laughlin AFB, north of Del Rio, Texas. During his Air Force career, besides training in the Cessna T-41 Mescalero, Cessna T-37 Tweet, and Northop T-38 Talon, he flew the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom and the Cessna O-2 Skymaster. This included one Southeast Asia (SEA) combat tour as an aircraft commander in the F-4 Phantom. His career also included being an instructor in the T-38 and the O-2. Following his 13 years in the regular Air Force, he joined the Wisconsin Air National Guard. During his thirteenth-year career with the Guard, he instructed in the O-2, the A-37, and the A-10 while the unit converted. He was a USAF Command Pilot. After retiring, Williams started flying in general aviation. He was also active in the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame, serving as a board member. Reflecting on the Master Pilot Award, Williams stated, “Being recognized for doing what you love doing seems like an unexpected bonus.”
Established in 2003, the Federal Aviation Administration’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award is named in honor of Orville and Wilbur Wright, two American aviation pioneers credited with inventing, building and flying the world’s first successful motor-operated airplane in 1903. The award recognizes individuals who have 50 or more years of safe piloting experience, or 50 or more years combined experience in both safe piloting and aircraft operations.
Over 9,000 certificated pilots have received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award in the United States. There are over 650,000 certificated pilots in the United States.
Fellow pilots nominated the recipients for the award. In addition to the required number of years, the award process requires each applicant to submit a written application to the FAA, along with several letters of recommendation, a review by the FAA of the applicant’s flying records, and final approval from Washington, DC.
Dean Zakos Photo