Class XXXIII
George Tidwell
As a boy while growing up on a cotton, corn and peanut farm in north-central Florida, George Tidwell watched Air Force pilots from a nearby flight training school and dreamed of becoming a pilot. That dream led him to an aviation career that ultimately brought him to Arkansas in 1960 to work in agricultural aviation. He started Tidwell Flying Services in 1964, which grew to became one of the country’s most advanced and progressive ag aviation enterprises. Tidwell has held all 4 offices of the Arkansas Agricultural Aviation Association and secretary of the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA). He served 11 years on the Arkansas Aeronautics Board, serving as chairman twice.