Deaf Hero Day -- Cal Rodgers

Cal Rodgers was born Jan. 12, 1879 and died on Apr. 3, 1912. He became sick with Scarlet Fever when he was six years old and lost his hearing. His achievements were never listed in "deaf" records because he had very little connection to the deaf. However, a biographer Eileen Lebow wrote that he was "almost totally deaf." Additionally, Henry Kisor said that "records of the time say he understood less than half of what was said to him and that his own speech was hard to understand. . . .(While) he could have been classified as severely hard-of-hearing,. . . he experienced what we do, and I consider him one of us."

Rodgers was the first civilian to ever to own a Wright Bros. Flyer bi-plane, and the first to make a transcontinental flight. Of course it wasn't non-stop. Bi-planes weren't capable of that. He named his plane the Vin Fiz, and began his trip at Sheepshead Bay, Long Island, NY on 17 Sept 1911 just four months after getting his flying license. He landed nearly two months later at Pasadena, CA on Nov 5, 1911 after crossing over the Rocky Mountains.

Since the biplane had no navigational equipment he followed the railroads. His bi-plane was temperamental and needed daily repairs. He had no windshield and no protection from bad weather. His body was exposed to the cold and the elements at all times. The plane was blown about in swift gusts of wind. Made of wood, metal and wire, it was light and delicate, difficult to maneuver and unstable. He died flying just four months after his infamous transcontinental crossing when he lost control of his plane near Long Beach, California. Below is a picture of Cal Rodgers with his plane, the Vin Fiz.