C. L. 'Bud' McHolland

1915 -2002

C. L. "Bud" McHolland, who dedicated over 73 years to aviation, with 57 years supporting Wyoming aviation activities, was best known for his master skills in designing and building international award-winning experimental aircraft in Sheridan.

Born and raised in Fargo, N.D., Bud started taking flying lessons in Pomona, Calif.,  at the age of 14. With war looming, he went to work for Douglas Aircraft in 1937 and received his CAA A&P license in 1939. Bud went overseas to North Africa as a Douglas technical representative teaching U. S. Army Air Corps maintenance personnel on all types of Douglas aircraft.

He moved to Sheridan in 1947 and became interested in designing and building homebuilt experimental aircraft. The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) designated McHolland as their 36th Technical Counselor. He won national recognition and awards for his outstanding workmanship on his homebuilt aircraft in 1965, 1966, and 1967. He won the prestigious Lindbergh Award at the  1983 EAA's International Fly-in at Oshkosh, Wisc., for his "Varieze Custom Build" aircraft.

Over a three-year period, he built an Acrosport aircraft which was selected for permanent exhibit at EAA's Museum in Oshkosh. McHolland guided the building and certification of 20 experimental homebuilt aircraft in the Sheridan area. In 1995, the FAA presented Bud the coveted Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award for his decades of dedicated service to aviation.

McHolland passed away on November 2, 2002.