Wilmore Jerome Stuart a product of Bailey Town, Bimini, is making a name for himself in the airline industry and likewise making all Bahamians proud of his accomplishments.

The 52- year-old Biminite, who resides in Davie, Florida, was on Monday morning en route to United Airlines Headquarters for the first phase of obtaining his Captain’s upgrade.

Mr. Stuart, the son of Veronica Pritchard, also a Bimini native and a resident of Freeport, Grand Bahama, says he is living a dream.

“As a little boy growing up on the island of Bimini, I would look to the skies as the Chalk’s plane flew over the Catholic school to land in the water, and dreamt of being able to fly airplanes someday.

“I knew then that to accomplish this dream I would have to leave the island for the United States. Times were not always good because of the financial requirement to fly airplanes. But perseverance paid off, as I was able to complete my flight training,” he said.

At age 52, Mr. Stuart now has a wealth of experience in the industry, having flown for Bimini Island Air, Bahamasair, Trinity Air Bahamas, Sun Jet and currently United Airlines where he has been employed for the past 18 years.

On March 24, the dream continues when Mr. Stuart will start the first phase of his Captain upgrade, which will take place in Chicago, at the United Airlines Headquarters, and continues in Houston, Texas, at one of the company’s flight training centers, where he will be trained to fly as Captain on the Boeing 737/900 series, one of the newest aircraft in the airline’s fleet.

This training should be completed by the end of May.

His uncle, Jerome Stuart, who played a pivotal role in Wilmore’s up-bringing said he was extremely proud to see his nephew excel.

“It really warms my heart. He is making the country proud of his accomplishments. Very few Bahamians have reached that level with an international carrier,” Mr. Stuart noted.

His family members travelled with him to Chicago on Monday for the special ceremony marking the start of his upgrade.

Mr. Stuart holds a bachelor of science in professional aeronautics, with a minor in aviation safety and management from Embry Riddle Aeronautics, Daytona Beach, Florida. In recent times he has served as First Officer on United’s Boeing 757/767 aircraft.

He is the father of five children and is married to the former Aletha “Mitzy” Hinzey of Alice Town.