Mary Barr learned to fly in a Piper Cub in 1946 in Lorain, Ohio. She worked nights in a factory to pay for flying lessons. Mary then moved to New York to attend aircraft mechanics’ school and worked on planes during World War II. Mary has had a varied career including serving as a FAA Pilot Examiner and Accident Prevention Counselor, and in a variety of positions within the U.S. Forest Service, including the first woman pilot and smokejumper. In 1964, Mary became one of the first four women to compete in the Reno Air Races. She held several FAA certificates and ratings including: Commercial, Airline Transport Pilot, Flight Instructor, Instrument, and Glider. She was also a Ground Instructor and Airplane and Power plant Mechanic. Mary passed away on March 1, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana.