T. Lowell Weir

Thomas Lowell Weir was born in Bedford on July 31, 1938, and grew up on the family farm. At age 15, Lowell took his first flying lesson on Christmas Day, sparking a lifelong passion for aviation.

After graduating from Bedford High School in 1956, he did custom combining for several years. During this time, he obtained his pilot license, became a flight instructor, a charter pilot, and served seven years in the Air National Guard. In 1961, Lowell attended training and did crop dusting in Texas, North Dakota and Shenandoah, IA. He attended Drake University for two years before moving to Ames and graduating from Iowa State University in 1969 with a degree in Engineering Operations. Lowell served as Chief Flight Instructor and pilot for ISU, flying administrators and Cyclone athletic teams around the nation.

Lowell owned and operated Wings Over Iowa in Boone for 17 years, where he was a Cessna dealer and an early Grumman Aircraft dealer. Lowell also worked three years as engineer and pilot at Quinn Wire and Iron in Boone.

In the late 1980’s, he became Chief Pilot, Check Airman, and Director of Operations at Elliott Aviation in Des Moines. There he flew the Beechcraft line of aircraft, including the Starship turboprop. Later, he worked as a corporate pilot for Gordon Management and TMC until 2006.

Lowell loved to give people their first aircraft ride. Proud of his flying and caring deeply about his students, he wanted to ensure they had the correct information and practices for safe flying. He taught hundreds of people to fly and did thousands of check rides. He was a Designated Pilot Examiner (FAA) and member of the Commemorative Air Force, flying a T-28 to and in airshows.

With over 30,000 hours of flight time in 53 years of flying, Lowell passed April 16, 2011.