Flight Museum to host Aviation Hall of Fame induction
The Lone Star Flight Museum, 11551 Aerospace Ave. at Ellington Airport, will host the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame induction ceremony and luncheon Friday, April 10, beginning at 11:30 a.m.
The Class of 2026 inductees includes the following three aviators:
– Bonnie Dunbar: A NASA astronaut, aerospace and engineering leader, Dunbar has made significant contributions in human space flight.
– John Dyer: A U.S. Air Force Vietnam veteran, Dyer is an accomplished flight instructor and Federal Aviation Association Wright Brothers Master Flyer award recipient.
– Meg Lonero (posthumously): A city of Houston airport executive, Lonero was an aviation industry leader and accomplished pilot.
Lone Star Flight Museum Executive Officer Anna Hawley praised the inductees, saying each had made a significant impact in aviation history and to the future of the aerospace industry.
“We are excited to celebrate three accomplished aviators and their role in strengthening the aviation industry and Texas’ undeniable impact in shaping the future of aerospace,” said Hawley. “We are proud to induct this year’s deserving individuals into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame. Bonnie Dunbar, John Dyer and Meg Lonero represent stories of passion, determination and incredible accomplishment. We are proud to be the home of the hall of fame and celebrate the legacy of excellence in Texas aviation, and we are grateful for the support of our generous sponsors. It’s going to be a great day.”
The Texas Aviation Hall of Fame was established through a resolution by the 74th Texas Legislature and signed by then Gov. George W. Bush to honor and recognize Texans and Texas companies or organizations that have made significant and lasting contributions to the advancement of aviation.
In 1997, the first class, which included Lloyd Bentsen, President George H.W. Bush, Beryl Erickson and Joe Kilgore was inducted. With the addition of the Class of 2026, the number of Texas Aviation Hall of Fame inductees has grown to 103.
Members of the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame are featured in one of four categories: Trailblazers & Explorers, Military Aviators, Leaders and Entrepreneurs & Innovators. The 2026 Texas Aviation Hall of Fame inductees join an impressive list of members including U.S. presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and George W. Bush, the Doolittle Raiders, the Tuskegee Airmen, Bessie Coleman, Eileen Collins, Gene Cernan, Gene Kranz and many more.
Class of 2026 inductees
– Bonnie J. Dunbar: Dunbar has been serving on the Lone Star Flight Museum’s board of directors since 2013. She is a former NASA astronaut and a recognized aerospace engineering leader. Dunbar was born on March 3, 1949, in Sunnyside, Wash. After receiving her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in ceramic engineering from the University of Washington, she earned a doctorate in Mechanical/Biomedical Engineering from the University of Houston in 1983.
Following positions with Boeing and Rockwell International Space Division building the Space Shuttle, Dunbar joined NASA as a payload officer and flight controller. She was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1980 and flew five Space Shuttle missions: STS-61A in 1985, STS-32 in 1990, STS-50 in 1992, STS-71 in 1995 and STS-89 in 1998. She logged more than 50 days in space. Dunbar later served as president and CEO of The Museum of Flight in Seattle, expanding aerospace education programs.
Dunbar is a professor of aerospace engineering at Texas A&M University. She has many honors for her contributions to human space flight and leadership in STEM education, including induction into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, Living Legends of Aviation, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame. Dunbar is a longtime resident of Seabrook.
– Capt. John Dyer: Dyer was born in Atlanta in 1949. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he joined the U.S. Air Force Flight School after graduating from North Carolina A&T University in 1971. Dyer served as the top flight instructor and was the face of the U.S. Air Force recruiting efforts during the Vietnam War. As part of the 89th Airlift Wing, he flew high-ranking members of the U.S. government.
Dyer has logged more than 21,000 flight hours, which include flying for Continental Airlines and FedEx. He was a pioneer in the Ultralight movement. He retired from commercial aviation in 2009.
A lifetime member of the Experimental Aircraft Association and Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, Dyer has remained deeply committed to aviation education and mentorship. In 2022, he received the prestigious Federal Aviation Administration Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award which recognizes 50 or more years of safe civil and military flying. On Nov. 15, 2025, the city of Houston proclaimed, “John Dyer Day,” recognizing his achievements and contributions to the Houston community through aviation. Dyer is also an accomplished jazz musician, avid golfer, and longtime resident of the Houston suburb of Spring.
– Margaret “Meg” Lonero: Lonero was born in Omaha, Neb., in 1938. She moved to the Houston area in 1965 with her husband and son and began her aviation career. She earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychology from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. She later earned her pilot’s license and held a seaplane rating for many years.
In the mid-1970s, Lonero became a founding partner of Clear Lake Aviation, a Houston area aviation and flight training operation. She later sold that business, became an Accredited Airport Executive, and built a 21-year career with Houston Airport System, the aviation department of the city of Houston.
Working in management roles at all three airports, Lonero served in Airport Operations and as manager at William P. Hobby Airport where she directed a $227 million modernization program, construction of a new central concourse, improved instrument landing capability, and coordinated federal security operations during major city events and governmental visits. She was also a manager at Ellington Airport and an assistant manager at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Lonero retired in 2005 and died in 2015.
Recognized for her mentorship of college aviation students, Lonero received the Bessie Coleman Woman of the Year Award in 2006.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available and individual tickets for the event are now available for purchase. For questions about sponsorships or individual tickets, contact Sam Waters at 346-352-7678 or sam.waters@lonestarflight.org.
Dobie boys’ soccer cherishes
unbeaten run
A 3-1 loss to Division 1 regional champion Atascocita stung for sure, but a 25-match run without a loss, complete with a district championship and three gut-check playoff wins, is enough to re-establish the Dobie boys’ soccer program as a Region III power.
A look back at a terrific 2025-2026 season with an 18-1-7 record that began four full months prior will one day soon bring smiles to everyone associated with the program as well as a terrifically supportive Dobie fan base that grew louder with every postseason win.
December 1, 2025, was the first official day for soccer practices to begin across the state as the Longhorns, led by second-year head coach Josh Kluka, were intent on turning the page on a previous season that, albeit brought a playoff berth, failed to meet program standards.
Scrimmages began as early as Dec. 12, with the first allowable day for the regular season to begin Dec. 29, all on the 2025 side of the calendar.
The Longhorns set the tone for a solid start to the season with three wins in San Antonio on the opening weekend, getting past Madison, Roosevelt and O’Connor by a combined 14-2 tally but then came home and played Dawson at home to a 1-1 draw in the district opener.
Dobie played to two more draws in the first half of district action but managed to lead the way in the standings at the midway point.
Three consecutive tied games to open the second half of district play allowed Pearland to slip past the Longhorns in the standings.
Then came the likely turning point in the season Feb. 24 as Julian Calderon scored a late goal in regulation to send the Longhorns to a 4-3 victory over the Oilers.
The win over Pearland catapulted the Longhorns to five overall victories in a row down the stretch as the locals were able to win the district championship with a 10-0-6 mark, 36 points in all.
It was not discussed much, but the Longhorns produced just the second-ever undefeated regular season in program history.
The 2023 team managed 24 wins and four ties without a loss before a regional final loss to eventual state champion Seven Lakes.
This year’s team went a total of 25 matches without a loss before falling to Atascocita.
Kluka was clearly proud of his guys even as the Tasco loss brought disappointment. “Our guys believe in themselves and nearly every day will do whatever it takes as a team to come away with the victory,” Kluka said.
“We beat Fort Bend Travis (2-0) and then played overtime matches against Clear Springs and Bellaire. I really think that extra playing time was a factor going into the match against the Atascocita. Our guys were worn down.
“That was quite a few extra minutes that we played in the previous two matches.
“We had an issue defending corner kicks and set pieces throughout pretty much the entire regular season, and it really came back to bite us against Atascocita. They scored their first goal off of a corner kick and also hit us with a set piece very early in the game for that 2-0 lead. We really worked on those scenarios in practice, but it didn’t work out for us on that night.”
“Credit to Atascocita as they came out aggressively and put us in a 2-0 hole basically two minutes into the match.
“We had a potential goal taken away on an offsides late in the first half. If it was truly offsides, it was a tremendous call by the official because it was oh so close.
“If we had gotten that goal right there and cut it to 2-1 going into halftime, who knows what might have happened.”
As it stood, Atascocita was able to come out in the second half and get a third goal that basically wrapped it up for them. Atascocita went on to reach the 6A Division 1 state championship match.
“It was truly a tough way to end the season, but I don’t know that a loss in any kind of way is a good one when you get down to the regional final.
“Honestly, I don’t think we realized that we had not lost a match until very late in the season.
“We were all focused on going out there and doing what we had to do to win basically every Tuesday and Friday. For this group to put together an undefeated record is truly special. This group as a whole deserves to go into the record book as one of the best in program history.
“As a coach I can truly say that they gave me everything they had, this season. The toughest part for all of us is not being together as a group out there on the practice and game fields.
“We were out there giving it our best since December 1 and really even before that in the weight room and so forth in preparation for the season.
“I’m sure with more time, we will all grow to truly appreciate and be proud of what we put together this season.
“At this very moment, it still stings that we weren’t able to keep it going. As for the seniors, I want to thank each and every one of them for the effort and contributions that they made to this program.
“As for the guys returning, they already know what the expectations are and I’m sure that as a group we all fully intend to bounce back and keep this thing rolling in the direction that we have set for ourselves.
“These guys showed that resiliency each and every day out there on the field. Just like every other program, we had our share of issues with injuries and other off field issues.
“But by and large, the guys were able to adjust and stay focused on going out there and playing our brand of soccer.
“It is especially gratifying to know that this group, led by our seniors, was able to get back on track and put Dobie back on that soccer map among the elite programs.”
While the Longhorns are due to return plenty of talent heading into the off season, the program will lose its share of senior standouts.
Each of the seniors, Kluka pointed out, played a huge role not only throughout the regular season but also during the memorable postseason run.
Those Dobie Longhorn seniors set to exit the program now include Axel Gonzalez, Randy Obah, Maico Bonilla, Jezreel Remales, Angel Hernandez, Allen Campos, Julian Calderon, Yurriel Sierra, Sergio de la Torre and Pavel Gonzalez.
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