VALDOSTA – A Lowndes County pilot has been awarded for his years of flying.

Luke Closson of Valdosta received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, along with Steve Godbehere of Cairo, according to a press release from the Rose City Soaring Club. The men are members of the club.

Mike Mullaney from the Federal Aviation Administration headquarters in Atlanta presented them with the award.

“The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award is the most prestigious award the FAA issues to pilots certified under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 61,” according to the press release. “This award is named after the Wright Brothers, the first U.S. pilots, to recognize individuals who have exhibited professionalism, skill and aviation expertise for at least 50 years while piloting aircraft as master pilots.”

Their names will be in the Aviation Safety Roll of Honor maintained at the FAA Headquarters building in Washington, D.C. Joe Blandford of Tallahassee, Fla., a recent recipient of the Wright Brothers Master Pilot, nominated the two pilots for the award. 

A distinctive certificate, the Wright Brothers “Master Pilot” Award and lapel pin were presented to Closson, a Valdosta resident since 1966. 

A graduate of the Air Force Academy, he came to Moody Air Force Base as a student pilot and was assigned as an instructor pilot in the T-38 aircraft, according to the press release. While a pilot for Delta Airlines, Closson made the decision to attend the Woodrow Wilson College of Law School in his off hours with the airlines. 

Graduating magna cum laude, he was admitted to the Georgia and federal bars. He primarily practices in the areas of workers’ compensation for injured workers and Social Security and he represents pilots and mechanics in FAA-related matters. Closson is a highly experienced commercial pilot with more than 20,000 flying hours.

A certified flight instructor, A&P mechanic and FAA designated pilot examiner, he has represented claimants at all levels of state and federal court as well as all administrative levels with the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation and the Social Security Administration. He is a director of the Georgia Injured Workers Advocates and the Work Injury Network-PAC, as well as a sustaining member of the National Association of Claimants Representatives. Closson has been a speaker at national and state training programs for both lawyers and pilots.

Luke’s wife, Bonnie Closson, a former Delta flight attendant, was presented a Wright Brothers Master Pilot spousal pin as well for her support of her husband’s career in aviation.