Voting Station

Ellen Church

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Aviator

The Resume

    (September 22, 1904-August 22, 1965)
    Born in Cresco, Iowa
    Licensed pilot and nurse
    Hired by Boeing Air Transport as the first stewardess (May 15, 1930)

Why she might be annoying:

    She originally applied for a co-pilot job, but the airline refused to hire a woman for the position.
    Her suggestion that female stewardesses would calm passengers' fears of flying was based partly on sexism: If it's safe for a girl to fly, surely it's safe for you, Mister Business Traveler.
    Because of the early planes' low ceilings and narrow aisles, Boeing mandated that stewardesses could not weigh more than 115 pounds or be taller than 5'4.
    She died from injuries suffered in a horse riding accident.

Why she might not be annoying:

    Stewardess duties in those days included loading luggage, fueling planes and helping pilots push the planes into their hangars.
    She ended up in charge of hiring flight attendants and developing standards for the job, becoming one of the first women in a management position in the aviation industry.
    She joined the Army Nurse Corps in World War II, helping evacuate wounded soldiers by airplane, earning the Air Medal.
    The airport in her home town was named after her.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 9 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 38 Votes: 89.47% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 16 Votes: 43.75% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 18 Votes: 38.89% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 23 Votes: 26.09% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 31 Votes: 19.35% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 163 Votes: 36.20% Annoying