Nevada is often forgotten about in the grand scheme of history. While yes, we are the "Battle Born" state, created just in case Abraham Lincoln needed three more electoral votes to be reelected, and to secure the passing of the 13^th Amendment that banned slavery in the United States, people don’t think of Nevada in terms of historical events. People mostly know us for Las Vegas and it’s “sinful” nature. So, it’s fairly uncommon to hear about an individual in Nevada making national history, but Marie McMillan did.

It’s also unlikely you’ve ever heard of Marie McMillan. I know I didn’t until a few days ago when I saw a one-minute news segment about her while passing by a television. But I’d wish I’d known about her sooner. I wish every little girl in Nevada had known about her growing up, because it is hard to find a better Nevadan role model than this woman.

While Marie McMillan was born in Northern California in 1926, she moved to Las Vegas in 1957 to work at the Nevada Test Site with her husband. This is remarkable because, during the 1920’s women were not expected to do much of anything besides get married, have children, be a housewife, and in some uncommon cases become a teacher or secretary. Marie broke the preconceived gender roles of her time and earned an A.A. from the University of California, Berkley, and later in life received two bachelor’s degrees in anthropology and archaeology. Ultimately, however, she dreamed of becoming a pilot.

Her dream of flying was finally achieved when her friend at the Test Site began giving her flying lessons. She completed ground school at Thunderbird Field in North Las Vegas in 1963. But she was not just a pilot she was the pilot.

Today, at 90 years old, Marie McMillan holds 656 records in aviation, 328 U.S. national and 328 international. This is more records than anyone else has achieved in the entire world.

She has also been servicing the Las Vegas community for years. She was a certified flight instructor for 25 years, teaching everyone from teenagers to police officers. She also spoke to young children about careers in aviation, and is a mentor for female pilots. Even more philanthropic, she flew mercy missions carrying doctors, nurses, and supplies to Mexico, and worked with Wings for Direct Relief to bring medical supplies to South America.

So how is it that we've never heard of this groundbreaking woman? Marie McMillan was the first person to create a record in the Caribbean Islands and the first woman, second person, after Charles Lindbergh, to create records in Mexico. We’ve all heard of Charles Lindberg, and most of us were even taught about him in history classes growing up, but never Marie McMillan. She has been breaking glass ceilings, since before the term was even coined, right in our own backyard, doing not only what made her happy, but what would open doors for hundreds of Nevada women in the future. I have fourteen years of education in Nevada under my belt and I’ve never heard her name spoken by a teacher, professor, staff member, or anyone else that is supposed to educate us in the classroom.

I understand history classes can’t cover it all, and I'm not blaming the teachers. I'm blaming the society that forgets and sometimes erases the achievements of those who do not fit into the socially constructed canon built for us.

Marie McMillan may not be as well known as she deserves, but she makes me proud to be a Nevada woman. On behalf of the history books that forgot your name, the professors and teachers who couldn’t make time in their syllabus, and the students who were never taught your name and what it really means, thank you. Thank you for everything we never knew you did to help us. I will never forget your name.

All facts used in this article about the life of Marie McMillan can be found here.