San Diego Air & Space Museum President and CEO Jim Kidrick — originally born in Bremerton and raised in Centralia starting at age 10 — was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class at the San Diego museum during a Nov. 8 induction ceremony.
Kidrick graduated from Centralia High School in 1967 and from Centralia College two years later before going on to study political science at the University of Puget Sound.
While not originally listed as part of the 2025 International Air & Space Hall of Fame inductee class, Kidrick was included at the direction of the San Diego Air & Space Museum Board of Directors during a surprise announcement made at the November induction ceremony, according to a museum news release.
“Kidrick joined the entire Class of 2025, which also included the Goodyear Blimp, celebrating 100 years as an icon in the skies above countless cultural and historic events, Pete Bunce, former President & CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the ‘Flight of the Grumman Cats (Cat Flight),’ legendary fighter aircraft produced by Grumman, and Jack Pelton, Chairman and CEO of EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) and a leader throughout the aviation community for decades,” the release stated.
“The International Air & Space Hall of Fame Class of 2025 represents the true pioneering spirit of aviation exploration, from American icons in the skies over countless cultural and historic moments, to record-setting flights, legendary fighter aircraft, and groundbreaking revolutions in commercial and business aviation innovation,” Kidrick added in the release. “Achievements in aviation and space, as embodied by the honorees in the prestigious International Air & Space Hall of Fame, directly represent the human pioneering spirit and pursuit of mankind’s future frontiers. I am honored and humbled to join the International Air & Space Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025.”
His induction follows him being named one of San Diego’s top 50 influential veteran business leaders in 2022 by the San Diego Business Journal.
As for why the board decided to include Kidrick, he’s been running the San Diego Air & Space Museum for the past 20 years, overseeing a “remarkable transformation of the museum into one of the premier aero-themed destination experiences in the world, and honored our space-pioneering astronauts and flight directors more than any other museum in the world.”
On top of running the museum, Kidrick is also a retired U.S. Navy commander and experienced aviator who served for 21 years, piloting both Douglas A4 Skyhawks and Ling-Temco-Vought A7E Corsairs — logging more than 4,250 accident-free flight hours and hundreds of aircraft carrier landings.
Following his Naval career, he received his Federal Aviation Administration commercial, instrument and multi-engined pilot certifications.
“Jim has exceptional special event production experience and founded the Naval Air Station Fallon Airshow in 1988 (and remains an International Council of Airshows member) and produced San Diego Bayfair, the Unlimited Hydroplane Races and Beach Festival in San Diego: which was selected as the National Race Site of the Year and Management Team of the Year three times, more than any other site in the country,” the release stated.
Before he was running the San Diego Air & Space Museum, organizing air show and hydroplane events or even flying in the Navy, Kidrick was making headlines for his wrestling prowess during his time at both Centralia High School and Centralia College, and even after while studying at the University of Puget Sound.
“Jim Kidrick, Centralia, has earned the right to compete in the small college National Wrestling Championships in Fargo, North Dakota, as a result of his excellent performance during the regular season with the University of Puget Sound (UPS) here,” a March 6, 1971, article in The Chronicle stated. “The 134-pounder was team captain and voted most inspirational wrestler during the season which saw him lose just his first match, a non-league bout, and then sweep the next 10. Kidrick will be the only UPS grappler attending the meet … Kidrick got his start in high school with the Centralia Tigers under the direction of Frank Smith, and in his final year under the coaching of George Jones. After his 1967 graduation he wrestled at Centralia College with Larry Henchan as coach.”
While he didn’t win, he still placed a respectable 12th in his weight division at the NCAA Division II national tournament, according to the March 25, 1971, edition of The Chronicle.
Along with being an avid wrestler, Kidrick also played softball and was named a part of the Twin City League District 8 Slo-Pitch Tournament All-Star Team, according to the Aug. 9, 1971, edition of The Chronicle.
“Four area players, Jim Howard and Tom Attaway of Reddi-Mix, and Lon Howard and Jim Kidrick of Myron’s were named to the tournament all-star team after the final game Saturday night at Millett Field in Chehalis,” the article stated.
Kidrick can do more than find his name in old newspaper archives for his wrestling and softball skills now, as it has been immortalized in history alongside other aviation legends such as the Wright Brothers, Neil Armstrong, Amelia Earhart, Chuck Yeager and more in the International Air & Space Hall of Fame.
The International Air & Space Hall of Fame is housed at the San Diego Air & Space Museum — a Smithsonian Institution affiliate and California’s official air and space museum and aerospace education center.
For more information, visit the museum’s website at https://sandiegoairandspace.org/.
