Thomas Cawley Memorial Aviation Scholarship

Thomas Patrick Cawley

Tom’s log books start in November 1958.  He was 12 years old at that time.  He was a student pilot in gliders in 1960, soloed in a J-3 Cub on his sixteenth birthday in 1962, a year later earned his private pilot single engine land.  In 1965 he earned his private multi-engine rating in August, his Commercial pilot license in September, and then enlisted in the Army in December and served for two years.  Tom was a hydraulics specialist on CH47 helicopters.

After the Army, mechanics and pilots ratings just kept coming:  instrument, power plant mechanic, airframe mechanic, commercial helicopter, Inspector Authorization, Airline Transport Pilot, flight instructor, instrument instructor and more.  But Tom was always learning, listening, reading about aviation.  He enjoyed the history of aviation.  He wanted to know the why and how of everything about aircraft and the engines that powered them.  The depth and breadth of his knowledge was astonishing.

Tom worked at several Hudson Valley airports over the years including Kobelt’s in Wallkill, Stormville, and the Dutchess County Airport.  In 1985 Tom established his presence at Sky Acres Airport with his FAA Certified Aircraft Repair Station, Cawley’s Aviation Service.

In January 2015, Tom received both the “Wright Brothers Master Pilot” and “Charles Taylor Master Mechanic” awards from the FAA.  Both awards require 50 years of safe service in the profession.

The Thomas Cawley Memorial Aviation Scholarship is being created to honor Tom’s love and devotion to aviation. It is available to any DCC student pursuing a career in one of the aviation programs at Dutchess Community College.

For more information, including other ways to give contact Diana Pollard at (845) 431-8403.