Fort Worth – In mid‑September, Lockheed Martin paid tribute to local aviation legend Lewis Kidd, who just turned 102, at The Ridglea senior living facility where he has lived for the past seven years. Mike Glass, the company’s director of test and evaluation, led the ceremony and said he felt honored to meet the veteran whose career helped shape the aircraft that protect America today.
From Navy radar school to the F‑35 assembly line
Kidd was born June 15, 1924, in Waxahachie, Texas. After a brief stint at Texas Tech University, he entered the U.S. Navy’s V‑12 Officer Training Program, earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, and served three years of active duty following World War II. He later spent five years as a reservist, including a deployment to Shanghai on the seaplane tender USS Chincoteague.
Following his naval service, Kidd worked for General Electric’s radar plant in Syracuse, New York, which brought him to Fort Worth. In 1954 he joined Convair’s flight‑test organization, contributing to the B‑36 Peacemaker program. Over the next four decades he held management roles on iconic aircraft such as the B‑58 Hustler, F‑111 Aardvark, and F‑16 Fighting Falcon, eventually supervising the communications group in the avionics area.
Lockheed Martin’s recognition
During the tribute, Glass presented Kidd with a framed poster chronicling his career, featuring photos of the B‑36, B‑58, F‑111, and F‑16 programs, as well as historic images of the Fort Worth plant from the 1940s. He also gave Kidd a scale model of the modern F‑35 Lightning II, the aircraft currently built on Lockheed Martin’s mile‑long assembly line.
Glass noted that his own career overlapped with Kidd’s for about four years in the 1980s, allowing the two men to share stories about how aviation technology has evolved. “I went there to honor him, and I came away honored that I got to meet him,” Glass said.
Advice from a centenarian
Kidd’s straightforward counsel to young people entering the workforce is simple: “Follow instructions, take your job seriously, be conscientious about it, and do it well.” He attributes his longevity to a combination of proper nutrition and staying active both physically and mentally. Even at 102, he attends an exercise class five days a week at The Ridglea and jokes, “I’m working on 103!”
The veteran’s story underscores the deep ties between Fort Worth’s aerospace industry and the generations of workers who have built America’s air power. Lockheed Martin’s recognition of Kidd highlights the company’s commitment to honoring the men and women whose dedication laid the foundation for today’s advanced aircraft.
Community impact
Friends, family, and fellow residents gathered for the ceremony, reflecting the strong sense of community that surrounds The Ridglea. Kidd’s son and daughter‑in‑law were present, and the event served as a reminder of the value of preserving local history and honoring those who have served both their country and their hometown.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
