Ann Herrick – Pilot
Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, inspired women across the country to join her in the cockpit as the boundaries of aviation extended beyond an all-male aRecognized in 1948 as one of five University of Illinois “Flying Co-eds,” Ann Herrick was among the first DeWitt County women to complete flight training. The students were the largest group of women to obtain private pilot licenses at the university.
Herrick’s training at the school’s aeronautical program followed her return to the university after four years with the Women’s Army Corps.
Photo courtesy of University of Illinois
The daughter of Dorothy and Wirt Herrick, a Clinton lawyer, Herrick also attended the Art Institute in Chicago and went on to teach art in all Clinton’s schools.
The new pilot was one of 70 licensed aviators in the county, according to a 1948 report of registered airmen. Herrick worked as a secretary at the airfield south of Clinton. Aviation lured 43 others to pursue pilot licenses at the local airport. Five aircraft were used for training the men enrolled in classes.
Herrick enjoyed taking off from the local airport with friends on board.
The U.S. State Department put Herrick’s skills as an aviator and artist to good use during her tenure as a cartographer with embassies in Athens, Greece; Berlin, Germany; and the Belgian Congo in Africa. She spent two years creating a mural at the U.S. Embassy in Leopoldville in Africa.
Photo courtesy of University of Illinois
Known for her independent and determined spirit, Herrick followed politics and participated in rallies for women’s rights. When supporters of the Equal Rights Amendment marched near her office in New York City, Herrick changed into her sneakers and joined the assembly. She returned to Clinton after retirement from her work as a graphic artist. She died at 85 in 2007.
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