Phyllis Bolds | |
---|---|
Born | 1933 |
Died | November 9, 2018 |
Alma mater | Central State College University of Dayton Simmons University |
Employer(s) | United States Air Force Wright-Patterson Air Force Base |
Phyllis Gaynell Bolds (1933 - 2018) was an African-American physicist who worked for the flight dynamics laboratory of the United States Air Force.
Early life and education
Bolds was the ninth of ten children in the family of Anna Y. Allen and Albert J. Bolds.[1] She graduated as a valedictorian from Dunbar High School, part of the Dayton Public School System, in 1950.[1] Bolds was the inaugural recipient of the Delta Sigma Theta Debutante Scholarship.[1] She studied physics at Central State College, earning a degree in physics Magna cum Laude in 1954.[2] She was typically the only woman in her physics classes.[3] Soon after graduating she was hired by the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.[3] The United States Air Force supported her to study computer science at the University of Dayton and management at Simmons University.
Research and career
Bolds was transferred to the United States Air Force flight dynamics laboratory in 1957.[4][5] At the time, a challenge in the design and use of aircraft was the lack of information about the dynamic operating environments.[6] She collected aircraft vibration data on the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle and Douglas C-133 Cargomaster.[2] She worked on the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit bomber for fifteen years.[1] Bolds used test flights to collect information about the vibration environments that exist around vehicles during normal flight conditions.[7] As so much data was collected, processing techniques such as spectrum analyzers and minicomputers were used. In 1970 Bolds attended a symposium at the United States Air Force Academy where she was the only woman of 350 delegates.[4] She published regular reports from the vibration and aeroelastic facilities.[8]
She worked for the United States Air Force for over thirty years, and was celebrated by the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as a Hidden Figure.[3][9] She was induced into the Dunbar High School Hall of Fame in 2017. Bolds died on November 9, 2018.[2]
Personal life
Bolds met her husband Elmer Graham Bolds at the Central State University.[10] Bolds' daughter, Karen Beason, and son, Keith Bolds, both worked for the United States Air Force. Her granddaughter, Adrienne Ephrem, also studied engineering and works in the 711th Human Performance Wing.[3][11] Bolds had a stroke in her early 40s, but continued to work.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d "Visual Voices". Victoria Theatre Association. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
- ^ a b c d "The life, times and legacy of Phyllis Bolds". Wright-Patterson AFB. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
- ^ a b c d Aaro, Adam (2017-05-10). "Three generations of engineers shine at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base". WRGT. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
- ^ a b "Wright-Patterson's women in STEM are not hidden figures". Wright-Patterson AFB. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
- ^ "Phyllis Bolds 85-year-old retired physicist". www.wpafb.af.mil. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
- ^ "Flight Vibration Survey of C-133 Aircraft" (PDF). DTIC. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ Bolds, Phyllis G. (July 1961). "FLIGHT VIBRATION SURVEY OF JRB-52B AIRCRAFT".
{{cite journal}}
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(help) - ^ Defense Technical Information Center (1982-12-01). DTIC ADA126317: Vibration and Aeroelastic Facility.
- ^ "The Neon in Dayton, Ohio". www.neonmovies.com. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
- ^ "Obituary | Elmer G. BOLDS". Thomas Funeral Home. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
- ^ "12 Fearless AFRL Risk-Takers". AF Research Lab. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
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