Effingham, IL-(Effingham Radio)- Bayard “Bud” Walters of Nashville, Tennessee, (owner of Cromwell stations throughout Illinois & Tennessee) has been honored with the prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, the Federal Aviation Administration’s highest recognition for pilots. This award celebrates those who have dedicated at least 50 years to aviation with unwavering professionalism, safety, and skill—marking not just longevity, but a legacy of excellence.
Bud’s aviation journey began in 1972 after moving to rural Hancock County, Kentucky. Introduced to flying by friends and inspired by a visit to the famed Oshkosh fly-in, Bud was instantly captivated. “That got me,” he recalls. “I started lessons and was hooked.”
Over the decades, Bud built a remarkable flying career. During his regular flights from Nashville to Cromwell Media’s six radio stations in Peoria, Bud connected with LifeLine Pilots, a Peoria, Illinois based nonprofit organization that provides free air transportation for thousands of passengers with medical needs far from home each year. Eager to serve the organization’s mission, Bud became a Command Pilot, flying passengers to necessary medical care throughout the Midwest.
One flight remains especially meaningful: transporting a cancer patient from eastern Kentucky to Vanderbilt Hospital in Tennessee. After landing, Bud personally drove the passenger and their companion to their hotel to ensure they were safely settled. When asked to describe his flying journey, Bud chose one word: “Privilege.” Then added, “Really a tremendous privilege.”
At age 84 and still IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) current, flying in and out of Nashville’s busy international airport, Bud made the difficult decision to “take my own keys away.” He recently sold his beloved Piper Warrior 161 that he bought new in 1978 and meticulously maintained for 47 years.
Bud Walters exemplifies the spirit of the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award—not only through his aviation expertise, but through his compassion and service. LifeLine Pilots is proud to celebrate his legacy and the care he’s extended to passengers during some of life’s most vulnerable moments.
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