Ed Dwight facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ed Dwight
Dwight while serving as a captain in the United States Air Force
Born	Edward Joseph Dwight Jr. (1933-09-09) September 9, 1933 (age 91) Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.
Education	Kansas City Junior College (AA) Arizona State University, Tempe (BS) University of Denver (MFA)
Known for	Sculpture
Awards	Air Force Commander's Award for Public Service
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1953–1966
Rank	Captain

Edward Joseph Dwight Jr. (born September 9, 1933) is an amazing American sculptor, author, and a former test pilot and astronaut. He made history as the first African American to join the Air Force training program that prepared people to become NASA astronauts. Even though he wasn't chosen to officially join NASA at that time, he finally flew into space on May 19, 2024. This made him the oldest person to ever fly in space, at 90 years old!

Ed Dwight's Life Story

Early Years and Dreams

Edward Joseph Dwight Jr. was born on September 9, 1933, in Kansas City, Kansas. At that time, the area was racially segregated. His father, Edward Joseph Dwight Sr., was a talented baseball player for the Kansas City Monarchs and other Negro league teams.

From a young age, Ed loved building things. When he was just four, he built a toy airplane from orange crates! He also loved to read and was a gifted artist. He went to grade school at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. One day, while delivering newspapers, he saw a Black Air Force pilot named Dayton Ragland on the front page of The Call newspaper. Growing up in a segregated world, Ed was incredibly inspired. He realized that Black pilots could fly airplanes, and he wanted to follow that path.

In 1951, Ed was the first African-American boy to graduate from Bishop Ward High School, a private Catholic school. He was a great student and earned a scholarship to the Kansas City Art Institute. He then studied engineering at Kansas City Junior College, earning a degree in 1953.

Flying High: His Air Force Career

Becoming a Pilot

Dwight in his Air Force uniform.

In 1953, Ed Dwight joined the United States Air Force. He completed his basic training and flight training in Texas and Missouri. In 1955, he became an Air Force second lieutenant. He was then sent to Williams Air Force Base in Arizona.

While training to become a test pilot, Ed also took night classes at Arizona State University. In 1957, he graduated with high honors, earning a degree in aeronautical engineering. He continued his Air Force training in experimental test piloting and aerospace research. He eventually earned the rank of captain in the Air Force.

The Astronaut Training Program

In 1961, a famous pilot named Chuck Yeager was in charge of the Air Force's Aerospace Research Pilot School (ARPS). This program trained pilots who might become NASA astronauts. Ed Dwight was chosen to join this special program.

His selection made big news around the world! Ed appeared on the covers of popular magazines like Ebony, Jet, and Sepia. He was a symbol of hope and progress.

Even though he completed the training, Ed was not chosen by NASA to be an astronaut. He left the Air Force in 1966. Later, in 2020, he was made an honorary member of the Space Force.

A New Path: Sculpting

After leaving the Air Force, Ed Dwight worked in different jobs, including engineering and real estate. He even owned a barbecue restaurant! But his true passion for art grew.

In 1974, he was asked to create a statue for the state capitol building in Colorado. This inspired him to become a full-time sculptor. He moved to Denver and earned a master's degree in sculpture from the University of Denver in 1977. He learned how to work with metal and create amazing art.

Ed Dwight is known for his unique sculpting style. Many of his artworks focus on Black history and civil rights. He creates pieces that tell stories about slavery, freedom, and the fight for equal rights. His first big work was the statue of Colorado Lieutenant Governor George L. Brown. He also created a series of bronze sculptures called "Black Frontier in the American West."

He also made a series of over seventy bronze sculptures for the St. Louis Arch Museum. This series, called "Jazz: An American Art Form," shows the history of jazz music and features famous musicians like Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.

Today, Ed Dwight owns and runs Ed Dwight Studios in Denver. It's a large place with a studio, gallery, and even a foundry where he creates his sculptures. You can visit his gallery and see his amazing work!

Journey to Space

In 2024, Ed Dwight finally got his chance to go to space! He was chosen for a suborbital spaceflight mission with Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket. He flew on the NS-25 mission on May 19, 2024.

At 90 years, 8 months, and 10 days old, he became the oldest person to ever fly in space! He broke the record previously held by actor William Shatner. This was a huge moment, showing that it's never too late to achieve your dreams.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Ed Dwight has received many honors for his contributions:

• 1986 – Honorary doctorate from Arizona State University
• 2020 – Air Force Commander's Award for Public Service
• 2020 – Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artist Award
• 2021 – An asteroid was named after him: Asteroid 92579 Dwight
• 2022 – University of Denver CAHSS Lifetime Achievement Award

Personal Life

Dwight in 2020.

Ed Dwight was raised Catholic and served as an altar boy when he was young. In 1997, he was the main sculptor for the statue of the Madonna and Child for the Our Mother of Africa Chapel. This chapel is dedicated to African-American Catholics and is part of the largest church in North America, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Ed was the only Black artist involved in this important project.

Famous Sculptures

As of late 2024, Ed Dwight has created 132 large memorial sculptures and over 20,000 smaller art pieces, including paintings and sculptures. Here are some of his well-known works:

Name	Picture	Location	Unveiled	Notes
African American History Monument		South Carolina State House grounds – Columbia, South Carolina	March 29, 2001
Alex Haley / Kunta Kinte Memorial		The City Dock – Annapolis, Maryland	December 1999
Black Revolutionary War Patriots Memorial		Constitution Gardens – Washington, D.C.	1991
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.		Anne Arundel Community College – Annapolis, Maryland	2006
Statue of Martin Luther King Jr.		Houston, Texas	2007
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial		City Park – Denver, Colorado	2002
Gateway to Freedom International Memorial to the Underground Railroad		Philip A. Hart Plaza – Detroit, Michigan	2001
Hank Aaron		Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia	1982
Jazz: An American Art Form		St. Louis Arch Museum – St. Louis, Missouri
Memorial to Rosa Parks, Mother of the Civil Rights Movement		Grand Rapids, Michigan	2010
Mother of Africa Chapel		Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception – Washington, D.C.	1997
Mr. Frederick Douglass		Frederick Douglass National Historic Site – Washington, D.C.	1980	Dwight's first commission
Texas African American History Memorial		Texas State Capitol – Austin, Texas	November 19, 2016	Erected by the Texas African American History Memorial Foundation.
Tower of Freedom International Memorial to the Underground Railroad		Civic Esplanade – Windsor, Ontario	2001
Underground Railroad Memorial		Kellogg Foundation headquarters – Battle Creek, Michigan	1994
Denmark Vesey Monument		Charleston, South Carolina	2014

Ed Dwight also shared in October 2024 that he is working on a memorial for the Normandy beaches to honor the Black soldiers who fought in World War II.

See also

• Tuskegee Airmen