He was an outstanding test pilot, fine president, and a great man. You could count on him to come through and deliver his best." That is how former McDonnell Douglas President, Chairman, and CEO, Sanford McDonnell remembers William Stuart "Bill" Ross. Ross, a former president of McDonnell Aircraft Company, passed away on October 16th at his St. Louis home at the age of 83.
From his childhood in Madisonville, Kentucky, Ross dreamed of one day flying airplanes. During an interview with the St. Louis Business Journal after becoming president of McDonnell Aircraft, he told of his first airplane ride at the age at 16 years old. "I paid my $7, got a 20 minute ride and oil all over my shirt, but that was it," Ross said. "I knew I was going in the right direction."
Ross said he skipped his high school graduation to join the Army Air Corps to fly airplanes. After his military career, he joined McDonnell Aircraft in 1955.
By his retirement in 1990, Ross had flown many of the company’s signature products in their testing stages. He also flew with President John F. Kennedy in an experimental demonstration during his visit to the St. Louis Site in 1962.
Ross is one of only two people to rise from being a test pilot to president of McDonnell Aircraft. The other was McDonnell founder James "Mr. Mac" McDonnell.
"He will be remembered for an honest, upbeat attitude," Sandy McDonnell said. "His legacy of high character and can-do attitude will continue on."
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