Though they were less famous than the Wright Brothers who hailed from Ohio, we have a number of notable aviation pioneers. When I first started my research on Lee Gehlback, I was taken by what can only be described as his dare-devil-winner-take-all approach to flying.  Gehlbach was part of our special exhibit on DeWitt County aviation history that  opened in June 2022 at the C.H. Moore Homestead and DeWitt County Museum.  

Co-curators of the exhibit John Warner and Denis Hambucken produced a collection of artifacts and history from Gehlbach’s family and other sources. A 1930 poster depicting Gehlback in a Camel cigarette advertisement was a powerful illustration of his broad appeal. As a pilot and lifelong collector of aviation memorabilia, John’s contribution of knowledge and artifacts combined with Denis’ talent as a historian and designer, made the exhibit a first-class experience for visitors.