Gift Academy Inc. (a 501.3C)
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Meet the Staff
​

Mary Latimer

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Pictured on left is Mary Latimer with a recent Gift Attendee Willow Hetrick who received her PPL at the 2012 event. The Founder and President of Gift Academy Inc.
Mary has been a flight instructor since 1974.  She is a corporate pilot flying a Conquest II, and an A&P mechanic with Inspection Authorization. She is also a retired air traffic controller after twenty-four years of service. 
She and her husband, Lawrence Latimer have been in aviation since meeting in 1970. They have been involved in aerial application industry, ferry, maintenance, rebuild, flight training, freight, and corporate areas...plan on taking a seat when the stories start! No one ever wants to leave when she starts!
Mary was named Flight Instructor of the year for the Lubbock Region in 2013!



Tamara Griffith

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Tamara is pictured on the left with Chloe from the 2015 class.She is the Event Coordinator and Director of Marketing.
Tamara is the daughter of Lawrence and Mary and the only child. She was born into aviation already in planes at a month old. Had her first tool set at 4 years of age and was starting to learn the instruments also. She thought everyone had a plane and living on the airfield next to the hangars its not hard to see where she had learned that mindset.
Tamara is commercial pilot, flight instructor, and A&P with her inspection Authorization (like her mother and likely the only mother daughter IA's). Tamara has been a corporate pilot, freight pilot, and has crossed both oceans, flown to, in and around many other countries. She is currently an independent flight instructor and also a mechanic.
She gives the other perspective of the story to Mary's from when she was the passenger in some. 
​She lives in Justin Texas Near DFW

Pinky
N3245L A donated 1967 C172 H

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Romeo
​N2447R A 1969 Piper 180 

we often get attached to our aircraft that were apart of goals and success! This one was donated in basically nearly unusable condition, needing an engine especially. We were also at that time in need of a plane ready for an event. We put personal funds into cylinders and managed her avionics. Ezell Avionics in Breckenridge, Texas keeps her radios running smooth, and a local shop provided her fresh paint and new look! Flying Eyes Optics created special edition sunglasses to match her. 
Her official name is Lilac and a children's book is in works about her, but everyone affectionally calls her Pinky!
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We often affectionally tell the Ladies this is your Romeo for your week during the event. 
Elizabeth Hawley donated her right before our second year of our event. He has been an excellent plane. This airplane was also used with Elizabeth and Mary during 2011 Air Race Classic number 22! 
Romeo recently updated his avionics with Ezell Avionics in Breckenridge, Texas. We hope to gain enough funds to eventually update his paint scheme. Meantime he is an excellent plane to get you to your goals!

​Tamara Griffith

giftacademyinc@gmail.com
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  • Home
    • Meet The Staff!
    • About Us
  • Flight Plans!
    • Mineral Wells Gift 2023
    • Sheboygan Gift Week
  • Tips
    • Pilot medical Information
    • Finding the Right Instructor
    • Knowledge Tests
    • Learning to Land
    • Misc PDF Download
  • Shop/Donate
  • Memorials and Honorees
  • Gallery
  • Contact Form
  • Comments and News
    • Supporters and links >
      • Major Supporters and Donations
    • Gift of Wings blog