Tom Crouch received the Dayton Walk of Fame Award in a ceremony hosted by Wright-Dunbar, Inc. on September 29, 2006.
Crouch is senior curator of aeronautics at the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution and author of numerous books on the Wright brothers. His “The Bishop Boys,” is considered the best book about the Wright brothers. Some other great books either authored or co-authored by Crouch include, “A Dream of Wings,” “Wings, A History of Aviation from Kites to the Space Age,” and “Wright Brothers and the Invention of the Aerial Age.”
The award consists of a plaque that is embedded in the brick sidewalk along West Third Street where several dozen other plaques honor other Daytonians for their contributions both locally and nationally.
The immediate area includes the site of the last bicycle shop where the 1903 flyer was built (1127 West Third St.). Other printing and bicycle locations include a printing shop in the Hoover Block building at 1060 West Third, first printing shop at 1210 West Third, first bicycle shop site at 1005 West Third, and the second bicycle site at 1034 West Third.
Not far away is the Wright Cycle Co. on South Williams St., the Wright family home on Hawthorn St., and Orville’s Laboratory on North Broadway St.
The citation on the plaque states:
“Author, Historian, Museum Curator. His dedication to educating the nation about aviation history has helped to focus attention on the Wright brothers and Dayton. He authored several award winning books and developed national exhibits about aviation history as a senior curator at the Smithsonian Institution.”
Crouch earned a Ph.D. at Ohio State University.