Olive Ann Beech, along with her husband Walter, co-founded Beech Aircraft Company in 1932. She served as secretary-treasurer and director until 1950, when her husband died. She then took over as President and CEO of the company, and transformed Beech Aircraft into a multimillion-dollar, international corporation. She served as chairman of the board from 1968 until 1982. She was chairman emeritus at the time of her death in 1993.