Rose Agnes Rolls Cousins facts for kids

Rose Agnes Rolls Cousins (born March 26, 1920 – died July 30, 2006) was an amazing aviator from Fairmont, West Virginia. She made history as the first African American woman to fly a plane alone in the Civilian Pilot Training Program. This program helped train new pilots.

Early Life and Her Love for Flying

Rose Agnes Rolls was born on March 26, 1920. Her parents were Ann Alberta (Thornton) Rolls and Theodore Emory Rolls Sr. Rose grew up in Fairmont, West Virginia. She discovered flying at a very young age.

When pilots visited Fairmont, they would offer plane rides for just one dollar. When Rose was only six years old, she went for a ride in a biplane with her father. This exciting experience made her love flying for the rest of her life.

Rose attended Dunbar High School. She was a very smart student and finished high school early because of her excellent grades. At sixteen, Rose started studying at West Virginia State College (now a university). She chose to major in business administration.

Joining the Civilian Pilot Training Program

While Rose was a student at West Virginia State College, the school started a Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) in 1939. This program was funded by the government. West Virginia State College was one of only six historically Black colleges in the country to have such a program.

Rose Rolls was the only woman who wanted to join the program. The program's director, James C. Evans, first thought about not letting Rose join because she was a girl. But Rose was very determined and kept asking.

Finally, Mr. Evans wrote several letters to government officials. He asked if one woman could join the program. Rose was allowed to join. However, she had to pass the same mental and physical tests as the male students. She famously told her instructor, “I’ll just put my hair up and you can pretend I’m a man.”

Learning to Fly Solo

During her training with the CPTP, Rose learned many difficult flying skills. She learned how to make the plane spin, how to land with the engine turned off, and even how to fly upside down. She successfully completed all of these challenges.

To get a pilot's license through the CPTP, students had to complete a solo cross-country flight. This meant flying alone from one place to another using only a compass and landmarks to guide them. Rose successfully flew from Fairmont to Parkersburg, West Virginia, even though there were strong winds.

After she graduated, Rose received her pilot’s license. She officially became the first African American woman to get a license through the CPTP. After earning her license, she continued to help with the program.

Hopes for Tuskegee and Facing Discrimination

In 1941, the eleven graduates from West Virginia State College’s pilot training program tried out for the U.S. Air Force training program. This program was for African American combat pilots in Tuskegee, Alabama. The pilots chosen for this program became well-known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

During World War II, Rose faced two types of unfair treatment. First, she was not allowed to join the Tuskegee Airmen as a combat pilot because she was a woman. Then, she tried to join the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs). This was a group of women who flew planes for the military. But she was rejected again, this time because of her race.

Later Life and Community Work

After being turned down by the Tuskegee Airmen, Rose went back to Fairmont. She helped take care of her parents as they got older. On December 31, 1941, she married Theodore W. Cousins. They had met while at West Virginia State College. They had two daughters, Emorene Nicole and Adrienne Michele. Their marriage ended in 1969.

Rose found it hard to get a job, even with her college degree and flying skills. This was because of her race. She taught algebra at her old high school and also taught Bible School. Later, she became a secretary for a city director in Fairmont. She was the first African American person to hold such a position in Fairmont’s city government. Eventually, she worked as a manager of medical records at a health center until she retired in 1999.

Rose Cousins was very involved in politics and her community. She was a member of the Marion County Democrat Women. She was also a civil rights activist and a lifelong member of the NAACP. She also taught business education at Fairmont State College.

Later in her life, Rose Cousins moved to her daughter’s home in Washington, D.C.. She passed away on July 30, 2006, at the age of 86. She had been battling Alzheimer’s Disease for ten years.

Legacy and Recognition

Rose Agnes Rolls Cousins is still known as one of West Virginia’s most important aviators.

In the 1980s, Rose was made an honorary member of the Tuskegee Airmen. Her daughter explained that Rose's flying experience and her strong will to overcome unfairness based on race and gender were the reasons for this special honor.