Ila Fox Loetscher (30 October 1904 – January 4, 2000), also known as the "Turtle Lady", was an American female aviation pioneer and noted advocate for the care and preservation of sea turtles.
Ila Marie Fox was born on 30 October 1904 in Callender, Iowa as one of a pair of twin girls, her sister was named Olive. Their parents were Eliza Anne née Sharr (known as Sally) and Charles Irwin Fox. They also had younger twin brothers.[1] Their father was a country doctor.[2] She received her early education in Pella, Iowa, before ultimately graduating from the University of Iowa.[3]
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.[3] 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.[4]
By the 1950s, her focus had changed from flying to family. However, when David Loetscher, her husband of 32 years, died in 1955, Loetscher opted for a new beginning and moved to South Padre Island, Texas.[5]
Her work with sea turtlesedit
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 to 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.[6]
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".[7][8]
Awards and appearancesedit
Ila Loetscher was inducted into the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame in 1991.[3]
^"Ila Marie "Turtle Lady" Fox Loetscher (1904-2000)..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
^"A personal recollection of the pioneering aviator who became rescuer & advocate for endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles". Animals 24-7. 2017-07-20. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
^ abc. Iowa Aviation Museum. Archived from the original on 2008-07-19. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
^. The Ninety-Nines, Inc. Archived from the original on 2007-02-06. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
^ abc(PDF). The Beachcomber. Town of South Padre Island, Texas. April–May 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 13, 2006. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
^"Solving the Ridley Riddle". Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. March 2004. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
^Hardison, Bob (September 29, 1983). "Hurtin' Hawksbills catch mercy jet to Turtle Lady". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Vol. 100, no. 177. pp. 1A, 16A – via Newspapers.com.
^Natham, Herm (April 9, 1986). "The Turtle Lady". The Monitor. Vol. 75, no. 280. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
^Farb, Brad (December 3, 1982). "'Turtle Lady' pays visit to Carson's 'Tonight'". The Monitor. Vol. 73, no. 131. p. 4C – via Newspapers.com.
Further readingedit
Sizemore, Evelyn (2002). The Turtle Lady: Ila Fox Loetscher of South Padre. Plano, Texas: Republic of Texas Press. p. 220. ISBN1-55622-896-1.
External linksedit
Sea Turtle, Inc website
January 01, 1970
loetscher, loetscher, october, 1904, january, 2000, also, known, turtle, lady, american, female, aviation, pioneer, noted, advocate, care, preservation, turtles, loetscher, holding, turtleborn, 1904, october, 1904callender, iowadiedjanuary, 2000, 2000, aged, b. Ila Fox Loetscher 30 October 1904 January 4 2000 also known as the Turtle Lady was an American female aviation pioneer and noted advocate for the care and preservation of sea turtles Ila LoetscherLoetscher holding a sea turtleBorn 1904 10 30 October 30 1904Callender IowaDiedJanuary 4 2000 2000 01 04 aged 95 Brownsville TexasBurial placePella IowaOccupation s Aviator conservationistKnown for The Turtle Lady Contents 1 Early life and aviation 2 Her work with sea turtles 3 Awards and appearances 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksEarly life and aviation editIla Marie Fox was born on 30 October 1904 in Callender Iowa as one of a pair of twin girls her sister was named Olive Their parents were Eliza Anne nee Sharr known as Sally and Charles Irwin Fox They also had younger twin brothers 1 Their father was a country doctor 2 She received her early education in Pella Iowa before ultimately graduating from the University of Iowa 3 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 3 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 4 By the 1950s her focus had changed from flying to family However when David Loetscher her husband of 32 years died in 1955 Loetscher opted for a new beginning and moved to South Padre Island Texas 5 Her work with sea turtles editShortly 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 to 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 6 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 7 8 Awards and appearances editIla Loetscher was inducted into the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame in 1991 3 In 2005 she was the first nominee to the Rio Grande Valley Walk of Fame 5 Loetscher appeared in National Geographic documentaries and on numerous television shows including The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 9 Late Night with David Letterman the Today Show and Real People 5 References edit Ila Marie Turtle Lady Fox Loetscher 1904 2000 www findagrave com Retrieved 2021 12 22 A personal recollection of the pioneering aviator who became rescuer amp advocate for endangered Kemp s ridley sea turtles Animals 24 7 2017 07 20 Retrieved 2021 11 25 a b c Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame Inductees Ila Fox Loetscher Iowa Aviation Museum Archived from the original on 2008 07 19 Retrieved 2007 03 06 The Ninety Nines Charter Members The Ninety Nines Inc Archived from the original on 2007 02 06 Retrieved 2007 03 06 a b c April Proclaimed Ila Loetscher Month PDF The Beachcomber Town of South Padre Island Texas April May 2005 Archived from the original PDF on May 13 2006 Retrieved 2007 03 06 Solving the Ridley Riddle Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine Texas Parks and Wildlife Department March 2004 Retrieved 2007 03 06 Hardison Bob September 29 1983 Hurtin Hawksbills catch mercy jet to Turtle Lady Corpus Christi Caller Times Vol 100 no 177 pp 1A 16A via Newspapers com Natham Herm April 9 1986 The Turtle Lady The Monitor Vol 75 no 280 p 2 via Newspapers com Farb Brad December 3 1982 Turtle Lady pays visit to Carson s Tonight The Monitor Vol 73 no 131 p 4C via Newspapers com Further reading editSizemore Evelyn 2002 The Turtle Lady Ila Fox Loetscher of South Padre Plano Texas Republic of Texas Press p 220 ISBN 1 55622 896 1 External links editSea Turtle Inc website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ila Loetscher amp oldid 1225282045, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
