J. Clifford “Turp” Turpin

J. Clifford “Turp” Turpin received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1908. After graduating, he returned to his hometown of Dayton, Ohio, where he secured a job with New Era Auto-Cycle, a company specializing in engine-powered bicycles for America’s growing motorcycle market. Turpin's connection to Wilbur and Orville Wright led him to assist them with airplane engine issues. When the Wright brothers established the Wright Company in 1909, they invited Turpin to join them. He was tasked with working on the engines for their planes, and he became a student at the Wright Flying School, learning from Orville. Turpin subsequently became the first Purdue alum to pilot an aircraft and signed on as an instructor at the Wright Flying School. In 1911, the Wright brothers formed the Wright Exhibition Team, which participated in airshows nationwide. As a pilot on the team, Turpin set a record for flying a plane at 9,400 feet. However, tragedy struck in 1912 when Turpin lost his flying partner and fellow team member in a plane crash at a show in Yakima, Washington. Once hailed as the "King of the Air," Turpin decided not to fly again. He briefly sold cars in New York before relocating to Boston to start a successful coffin business.