Pub. 59 2018-2019 Issue 1

7 SUMMER 2018 because they are essential to the quality of life of every American, and certainly every Texan. Dealers are essential to Texans not just because they provide safe personal transportation and are one of the most important economic engines for our state, but also because they provide community leadership, charitable contributions and extraordinary volunteer service. Jim Hurst embodies the essence of community service that exists wherever Texas franchised dealers are present, in 289 Texas cities and town. As a volunteer for Angel Flight South Central, Jim Hurst has donated his Beechcraft Bonanza and his expertise as a pilot to transport cancer patients from five states to receive medical treatment that would in many cases not be available due to the distance from a treatment center, and also due to the cost of travel. Over seventy-five percent of the cancer patients flown by Jim Hurst have been treated at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, one of the world’s premier cancer centers. Many of the missions can be made by round trip in one day. Jim picks the patients up in their home town in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma or New Mexico; flies them to a treatment center; waits for them to receive their medical treatment; then flies them back home the same day. As Jim says, the travel to treatment is too long and difficult for them to go by car or commercial airlines, plus it takes a large financial burden off of the patients that can be substantial with travel and lodging. The Angel Flight service is completely free, at no cost to the patient, and the pilots do not receive any reimbursement. All costs are paid for by the pilots. Jim Hurst has flown 240 Angel Flight missions over a ten year period with a conservative estimated cost of $200,000.00. His contribution to the lives of these hundreds of patients is incalculable. Jim Hurst was born into an aviation family, as his father was an Army Air Corps Advanced Instrument Instructor duringWorldWar II. Jim holds an Airline Transport Pilots License (FAA’s highest license) and started his aviation activity in 1964 having accumulated more than 10,000 hours in 53 years. In his career as a pilot, Jim has flown solo on a north Atlantic crossing to Europe by way of Canada, Greenland, Iceland and Scotland. He has flown eight round trips to Alaska, going as far north as Barrow, Alaska. In all, Jim has flown to twelve countries including several in South America. He is a recipient of theWright Brothers Master Pilot Award. This award is the most prestigious award the FAA issues to pilots under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations part 61, named after the Wright Brothers, the first US pilots, to recognize individuals who have exhibited professionalism, skill and aviation expertise for at least 50 years. In receiving the award, Jim had this to say: “I would like to recognize my father, J.G. Hurst, for being the most important influence inmy life. He introduced me to aviation and encouraged my development. He was also the best pilot and finest instrument pilot I have ever known.” Jim Hurst learned well from his father, both in serving the employees, customers and community in Longview, Texas and in taking to the skies to serve humanity and the greater good. 