IN MEMORIAM Cecil "Sinnie" Sinclair was born on April 8, 1888 in Chandlersville, Illinois. A gifted pilot, he dedicated his career to the advancement of aviation, both as a pilot and businessman. Sinnie began his aviation career in 1915, soloed the same year. Sinnie flew exhibition until he joined the U.S. Signal Corp. as a civilian flight instructor in 1916 teaching Army pilots. In 1925 became Assistant Manager of Ford Airport in Dearborn, Michigan. In 1926 he flew airmail for Ford Company flying the "Stout all-metal airplanes." In 1928, he joined Universal Airlines flying throughout the Midwest. In 1935, Universal Airlines became American Airlines. In 1937 Sinnie formed Sinclair Flying School in Muskegon, Michigan. His stay in Muskegon lasted over fifty (50) years. Sinnie spent his years in Muskegon with flight instruction, charter work, aerial photography, aerial ambulance trips and various other aviation projects. Sinnie taught thousands of students to fly, from WWI pilots to younger kids. He was a prolific instructor who never had a student who did not succeed. Many of his students became very prominent in aviation. Sinnie's flight hours are not known, but it is believed they exceed 30,000 hours. He has received literally hundreds of awards and citations. He was President of the OX5 Club of America. He organized and was a Colonel in the Muskegon 119th Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, 1956 Honorary life member of the AERO Club of Michigan, 1962 Honorary member of Michigan Flying Farmers, 1965 Magnificent Man Award by Twentieth Century Fox, to "Those magnificent Men in their Flying Machines," 1968 Honored Guest with Walter Carr Sr., at the 50th Anniversary of the Air Mail Service. Sinnie was a member of all major aviation fraternal organizations. Sinnie Sinclair was listed in the Guiness Book of Records in 1977 as the oldest living pilot in the World. Sinclair, who held pilot's license No. 624 signed by Orville Wright, died April 5, 1986 in a Grand Haven, MI, nursing home. He would have been 98 on April 8.
