WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — During an era where many thought women should be homemakers only, taking care of their children and husband, there was a dynamo working in the radar branch at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base from 1955-1985. She was an African American physicist named Phyllis Bolds.
She apparently didn’t get the memo about what women could or couldn’t do, because she said, “I graduated valedictorian from Dunbar High School in 1950, and magna cum laude from Central State College in 1954, with a degree in physics.”
Bolds joined the Air Force team, as a civilian, in 1955, it wasn’t long before they realized what and who they had on their team. She said, “The Air Force paid for me to get a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Dayton in 1973, as well as a master’s degree in management from Simmons Women’s College in Boston in 1977.”
She quickly earned the respect of her leadership and colleagues through her work on gathering aircraft vibration data on numerous Air Force aircraft to include the B-2, F-15, C-133A, all of which were and are detrimental to the safety of the pilots and the success of their mission. Bolds also published numerous technical documents on this topic during her 30-year career.
It was quickly noted that Bolds didn’t approach her work just as a career but as a calling instead. She instilled in her children, grandchildren, and Sunday school children that science, technology, engineering and math were the building blocks of the future.
“My mom was the most phenomenal woman I will ever know,” said Karen Beason, Bolds’ daughter and 88th Civil Engineering Group, environmental protection specialist. “As a mother of five children, she was our guidance counselor and life coach.”
Beason explained that her mother not only mentored them, but gave spiritual guidance to students of all ages and tutored others who were in the prison system.
Bolds had a stroke in her early 40s, but still she went on to complete but two master’s degrees during her career at Wright-Patterson.
“My grandmother excelled in every aspect of her life and embodies the Biblical definition of a virtuous woman,” said Adrienne Ephrem, Bolds’ granddaughter and integration manager, 711th Human Performance Wing. “The contributions she made to the Air Force as a physicist, working on the B-2 Bomber, continues to live on today as proof that hard work can help you achieve anything beyond your wildest dreams.”
Bolds was recently recognized at the Schuster Center on February 24, as one of the 2019 Dayton Skyscraper Honorees. Willis Bing Davis, project designer and curator of EbonNia Gallery, was the genesis of this Skyscraper project, metaphorically (through art) representing the honorees contributions to the Dayton community.
He chose to illustrate her contributions with an artistic collage, representing her life and work, professionally, spiritually and through her mentoring and tutoring.
He honored Bolds for her contributions to our nation, working as a physicist from 1955-1987 with the Air Research Laboratory, studying aircraft vibrations and flight dynamics for our Air Force fighter aircraft and for her work tutoring students in STEM.
The 2019 Women’s History Month theme is, “Visionary Women: Champions of Peace and Nonviolence.” Bolds had a vision and a determination to do her best and be the best in everything she endeavored to do. She also championed helping others and those along her walk towards excellence to strive for excellence also. Phyllis’ other relatives and mentees whose lives were touched by Bolds include:
Kristy Bolds, Phyllis’ granddaughter, who said, “Not enough words can describe her brilliance and amazing work ethic. She will always be a hero in my eyes. She set the bar so high, I don’t know if I can ever [live up to it,] but I will continue to work hard and strive for the best. I’m proud to be her granddaughter. May her sweet spirit have peace in heaven.
Nyra Davenport, one of Bolds’ mentees, said “She was my Training for Service instructor. She was ‘no nonsense’ and opened my eyes to how I needed to increase my study habits!”
Phyllis Bolds died, Nov. 9, 2018, but her legacy lives on.