Gladys Livingston Berry was born March 2, 1904 in Whittier, California. At eighteen she married Lloyd O'Donnell, a car salesman who enjoyed flying airplanes. She soloed after 10 hours and in 1929 at the age of 25, became the first licensed woman pilot in Long Beach, California. That same year, Gladys participated in the first Women's Air Derby with only 40 hours of solo flying time. The nine-day race started in Santa Monica, California and concluded in Cleveland, Ohio. Gladys finished second behind Louise Thaden. Each of the women who participated in that historic race - Amelia Earhart, Louise Thaden, Phoebe Omlie, Ruth Elder, Blanche Noyes, Bobbi Trout and Gladys O'Donnell - opened doors for all women pilots.

Gladys was also a charter member of the 99s and the first Governor of their Southwest Section.

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