Ila Loetscher

Ila Fox Loetscher (1904 – January 4, 2000), also known as the "Turtle Lady", was a female aviation pioneer and noted advocate for the care and preservation of sea turtles.

Early life and aviation

Ila Loetscher was born in 1904 in Callender, Iowa as one of a pair of twin girls. She received her early education in Pella, Iowa, before ultimately graduating from the University of Iowa.cite web|url=http://www.flyingmuseum.com/HOFDetails.aspx| title=Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame Inductees; Ila Fox Loetscher| publisher=Iowa Aviation Museum| accessdate=2007-03-06]

From her early life, Loetscher had developed in interested in engines and aviation, and she became, at the age of 25, the first licensed native Iowa female pilot. At the invitation of her friend Amelia Earhart, Loetscher was one of the 99 charter members of the Ninety-Nines, an organization founded in 1929 to promote fellowship and support for female pilots. [cite web|url=http://www.ninety-nines.org/charter.html| title=The Ninety-Nines; Charter Members| publisher=The Ninety-Nines, Inc.| accessdate=2007-03-06 ]

By the 1950s, her focus had changed from flying to family. However, when David Loetscher, her husband of 32 years, died in 1955, the family opted for a new beginning and moved to South Padre Island, Texas.cite web|url=http://www.townspi.com/Newsletter/Newsltr2005/April05.pdf| title=April Proclaimed “Ila Loetscher Month”| work=The Beachcomber| publisher=Town of South Padre Island, Texas| date=April/May 2005| accessdate=2007-03-06 ]

Her work with sea turtles

Shortly after moving to South Padre Island, Ila Loetscher developed an affection for and interest in sea turtles, which would come to define the latter half of her life. From 1963-1967, she accompanied fellow island residents on trips to Mexico to get eggs for the endangered Kemp's Ridley turtle that they would plant and protect on the island, and she received a state license to care for sick and injured sea turtles. [cite web|url=http://www.tpwmagazine.com/archive/2004/mar/ed_2/| title=Solving the Ridley Riddle| work=Texas Parks and Wildlfe magazine| publisher=Texas Parks and Wildlfe Department| date=March 2004| accessdate=2007-03-06 ]

In 1977, Loetscher founded “Sea Turtle, Inc”, a non-profit corporation focused on protecting and preserving sea turtles, particularly the Kemp’s ridley. Her activities on behalf of the turtles gained her the nickname, “The Turtle Lady.”

Awards and appearances

*Ila Loetscher was inducted into the "Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame" in 1991.
*In 2005, she was the first nominee to the “The Rio Grande Valley Walk of Fame”
*Loetscher appeared in National Geographic documentaries and on numerous television shows, including the Johnny Carson Show, the David Letterman Show, the Today Show, and Real People.

References

Further reading

*

External links

* [http://www.seaturtleinc.com/ Sea Turtle, Inc website]