Throughout his life, Tracy Forrest combined his lifelong love of aviation with the same passionate and innovative approach he took in building a successful career in commercial development and construction. An Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) rated airman, he logged well over 5,000 hours of flight time in aircraft as diverse as the historic Ford Tri-Motor, to his own personal Cessna Citation CJ3+ business jet.
Even more than the pleasure he found in flying, Tracy felt he had a responsibility to give something back to both the aviation industry and to his community. He served as founder and director of both the TBM Owners and Pilots Association and the Citation Jet Pilots Association, held board positions at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and served on the Leadership Council of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).
Above all, Tracy strongly believed in honoring aviation’s past and supporting and nurturing its present and future generations. After years of friendship with the legendary aviator and working together on several aviation-centric projects, in 2013 Tracy partnered in the formation of the Bob Hoover Legacy Foundation dedicated to maintaining Hoover’s pioneering spirit and encouraging and supporting future generations to explore the many possibilities in aviation.
Tracy was also a driving force in other educational, safety and charitable activities, including Veterans Airlift Command, Corporate Angel Network and EAA's Young Eagles program. He also helped fund more than a half million dollars in aviation scholarships that allowed many young aviation enthusiasts to achieve their dreams of a career in the industry.
We are honored and humbled to now continue this mission in Tracy's honor following his untimely passing from cancer in October 2020 at the age of 70.