Brian
Ridgley
Owner
Brian took his first flying lesson at age 9 in Jacksonville,
Texas (JSO). That first introduction to aviation launched
a lifelong passion for all types of aircraft: single,
multi, turbine, you name it, Brian loves it!
Representing
the second generation of aviation Ridgleys, Brian acquired
the company in 1997 after eight years of "internship" following
service in the US Navy. Wife Laurissa is co-owner and
the three Ridgley children are regular fixtures around
the RidgeAire "compound."
Laurissa
Ridgley
Marketing/Analysis
Laurissa is the wife of Brian Ridgley and they have
3 children. Her main focus in the company is marketing
and analysis.
However, by education she is a teacher
and a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University
of Nacogdoches, Texas.
She takes care of the whole
RidgeAire and Ridgley families. She flies on a regular
basis with Brian and attends a lot of the aviation
functions to support the company. She is the glue that
holds all of us together.
Janice
A. Crawford
Office Manager
Jan was born and raised in Cherokee
County, and graduated from Jacksonville High School
in 1979. She has been with RidgeAire, Inc. since March
of 2002. Jan is an invaluable part of the RidgeAire
team, bringing a professional and posiive attitude
to the work place every day, as well as lending organizational
skills and a well-rounded knowledge of the business.
RidgeAire
clients often cite Jan as being a key ingredient to
their positive experience with the company.
Bud
Ridgley
Bud soloed in 1947 while working at “Beaver Field”
in Des Moines, Iowa, as a lineboy. He bought first
airplane (a 1947 Luscomb 8E) in 1958 and purchased
second aircraft in 1964, a 1959 Cessna 182 Skylane
from Ragsdale Aviation, Austin Mueller Airport!
Bud's third airplane was a 1968 swept-tail Skylane,
bought in the early 1970s. He took his instrument
training while living in Houston in the mind 70s and
started selling aircraft in 1973 as Sales Mgr. for
Hunt/Pan-Am, Cessna/Gruman/Mooney dealers and first
rate FBO in Brownsville, Texas. In 1975 Bud started
“Ridgley Aviation World Wide” in a move to Bay City,
Texas, where he also handled the Fixed Based Operations.
From 1978 through 1987 Bud owned facilities at JSO
(Jacksonville, Texas) and TYR (Tyler, Texas) and in
1989 remained exclusively at JSO and is still there.
