Iris Cummings Critchell, instructor of aeronautics emerita at Harvey Mudd College, pioneering female pilot in the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS), Olympic athlete and beloved mentor to students, passed away Jan. 24, 2025, in Claremont, California. Critchell was 104.

Born Dec. 21, 1920, in Los Angeles, Critchell began swimming at an early age and continued to enjoy it into her 103rd year. Her father, a well-known coach, M.D. and event official, taught her not only swimming and personal growth, but sportsmanship and the underlying concepts of the Olympic games. Critchell began swimming in the Pacific Ocean as a very young girl and at age 11 attended the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles as a spectator with her father.  She went on to win the U.S. National Championship in the 200-meter breaststroke in 1936.  This put her on the U.S. Olympic team in the 1936 Berlin Olympics and she remained national champion for three years.  She was the last living U.S. survivor of the games.  Critchell spent the rest of her life epitomizing the Olympic ideals and shared her experiences and enthusiasm with countless admirers.

Critchell began flying in 1939 at Mines Field (now LAX) in Piper J-2 Cub planes while a sophomore at University of Southern California. She completed private pilot and advanced acrobatic courses in Waco bi-planes in 1939 and 1940 on the first civil pilot training program at USC, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in physical sciences and mathematics in 1941.

In 1941, she was an instructor for the civil pilot training program at Brackett Field in La Verne, California, and, in 1942, for the Navy Cadet program for Stockton Junior College in Carson City, Nevada. In December 1942, she reported to Houston for Army Air Corps training and was then assigned to the WAFS, which later became known as the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs).

Until December 1944, she served as a civilian ferry pilot with the Army Air Corps, Air Transport Command, 6th Ferrying Group at Long Beach. During this time, Critchell ferried more than 25 types of military airplanes as pilot in command, including each of the WWII trainers, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-40 War Hawk, P-39 Air Cobra, C-47 Transport, B-25 Mitchell, A-20 Havoc, and the most advanced aircraft such as the P-38 Lightning, P-51 Mustang and P-61 (the Black Widow).

From 1946 to 1948 at the University of Southern California College of Aeronautics at Santa Maria, Critchell developed the curriculum, taught the classes for primary, instrument, commercial and instructor courses and gave all the instrument flight instruction in Vultee BT-13 trainers. Beginning in 1950, she flew in the All-Woman Transcontinental Air Race (Powder Puff Derby) 15 times and placed first in two races and in the top 10 seven times.

In 1961, Critchell and her longtime pilot husband, Howard (a.k.a. “Critch”), were asked by Isabel Bates to establish a special aero program for the Bates Foundation for Aeronautical Education. Iris developed this unique program to use the airplane as a tool for enhancing the education of young people in junior high, high school and college. In 1962, Iris and Critch launched the Bates Aeronautics Program at Harvey Mudd College.

“Iris loved Harvey Mudd College, and along with her husband, Critch, was instrumental in inspiring generations of our students to love aeronautics and to appreciate the privilege of flight,” said HMC President Harriet B. Nembhard. “One of my fondest memories is of a conversation I had with her when I first joined the Harvey Mudd family as president in 2023. During our talk, she shared that ‘Harvey Mudd is a special place. It is worthy of special endeavors.’”

“Iris undertook many special endeavors in her long and amazing life, and her words proved inspiring to me,” Nembhard said.

From 1962 to 1990, Critchell served as director of the Bates Foundation’s Aeronautics Program at Harvey Mudd as a faculty lecturer in aeronautics and as chief flight instructor for the flight-training phase of the program. More than just a tool for enhancing science education, the program taught student pilots what Critchell called “the privilege of flight,” leadership, responsibility and self-reliance amid the demanding conditions of an airplane cockpit. The more than 250 Harvey Mudd alumni who participated in the Bates Program while students at Harvey Mudd now include many distinguished scientists, aero engineers, aerospace researchers and two astronauts, as well as other successful business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Bruce Worster ’64, a Bates alumnus, physicist and entrepreneur described her as a remarkable member of the aviation community whose energy and achievements amazed everyone.

After retirement, as a faculty emerita, Critchell taught aeronautics for six more semesters at Harvey Mudd and continued to assist with student aero projects and advise members of the Barnstormers student club. She also served as curator of the Aeronautical Library Special Collection at the College.

In 2015, in honor of her 76 years of contributions to the aviation community, Critchell was inducted into the California Aviation Hall of Fame at the Museum of Flying in Long Beach. She joined the ranks of inductees who shaped the growth of the aviation and aerospace industry in California.

The following year, the Harvey Mudd College Alumni Association awarded its second Van Hecke Prize to Critchell, who had received an Honorary Alumnus distinction in 1990 and a Lifetime Achievement award in 2007. Considered the highest honor given by the alumni association, the Van Hecke Prize is reserved for alumni who are synonymous with an extraordinary level of support for and commitment to the College, its students, its alumni and its mission.

Critchell’s other many honors include:

• Ontario (CA) FAA District, Flight Instructor of the Year, 1972
• National Association of Flight Instructors Hall of Fame, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, 2000
• Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, Federal Aviation Administration, 2006
• Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame, 2007
• Honoree, USAF Air University Gathering of Eagles at Maxwell Field, 2008
• Nile Gold Medal for contributions to aerospace education, Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, 2008
• Honoree, Flight Path Learning Center Museum at LAX, 2013

Reflecting on her career at Harvey Mudd, Critchell once said, “I loved the opportunity to bring stories of sharing the privilege of flight with each generation of students and to follow their aero, space and life accomplishments.”

Critchell was preceded in death by her husband, Howard “Critch” Critchell. She is survived by a daughter, Sandie Clary SCR ’74, a son, Robin Critchell, three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, gifts in honor of Iris Critchell may be made to Harvey Mudd College, Office of College Advancement, 301 Platt Blvd., Claremont, CA, 91711.

Memories of Iris

Neil Myers ’85

Bates Aero student '84 & '85

Child of an Air Force pilot, I had a lifelong infatuation with aviation. Unfortunately, I did not inherit my father’s keen eyesight and knew I wouldn’t fly for the military. When I learned of the Bates program when interviewing at Mudd, I was sold on the school. I was fortunate to be accepted into Mudd in ’82 and Aero 1 and 2 in ’84 and ’85.

Mrs. C was so much more than a legendary aviator. But youth is sometimes wasted on the young and some of us may not have realized at the time just how incredible she was. We kept in touch infrequently, through holiday cards and “From the Tower” newsletters. She contacted us when she came through Colorado Springs once, and though we were sleep deprived new parents at the time, I was excited to meet up. Eventually, I came to learn more of her remarkable story when I saw an announcement of her induction into the National Flight Instructors Hall of Fame. When the U.S. Olympic Paralympic Museum opened here, we found her in the interactive display of U.S. Olympians and I gasped in recognition when we saw her in the museum’s main film presentation. Not long ago, when traveling, I spoke of her to a female flight crew member, wondering if she knew of the WAFS and WASPS that pioneered women in aviation. Of course, I told her I was taught to fly by one of those pioneers, who also happened to have been an Olympic swimmer at the 1936 Berlin games. When she remarked on what an amazing person she must be, I asked if she’d seen those old “most interesting man in the world” ads? Then I told her, I think the most interesting person in the world wasn’t a man. I think it was Iris Critchell. And I was blessed to know her.

Jamie Haddock

I was so fortunate to meet Iris this past summer. What an inspiration! We shared a nice afternoon talking about our lives and connections to Mudd. Iris was humble, generous, and interested to learn about me. We spoke for a few hours, which I learned was to be expected of a visit with Iris — her life and passion filled the conversation and it was hard to tear myself away. I’m blown away by how much Iris has enriched the Mudd community — we’re so lucky to have known her and for her guidance of the Bates Program!

Nicholas Breznay ’02

Student, Colleague, Friend

I wonder how many Mudders remember moments like these, just as vividly as I do …

– Meeting Iris for the first time: it’s freshman year at HMC, and Mrs. C invites me to a meeting to discuss a scholarship (thank you Foleys and the Bates community!) and to open the door into the nerdy, generous, and always welcoming HMC aeronautics world. Years follow of fly-ins, aero club outings, casual lunches with astronauts, and …

– The first flight: well after the Bates program years, my roommate Brian and I are lucky enough to get marching orders from Iris and arrive at Brackett field early on a Saturday morning. After a ground school mini-lecture and full preflight check on N7642G, I am at the controls alongside Iris and taking off … way before my brain has caught up to the moment. Heart flutters amid the rumble and buzz of the engine, Iris’s calm and authoritative voice over the headset, and views of San Dimas falling away from us …

– Returning to campus after a decade (or more): Iris instantly recognizes me at alumni weekend and I am part of the family again. We find my entry in her flight instructor logbook, talk about future generations of amazing HMC students, and a few months later I’m using media from the aero library in our Physics 24 lectures …

Thank you Iris – for your passion in sharing the privilege of flight, and for the community you nurtured along the way.

– Nicholas P. Breznay ’02

Don Albrecht ’72

Aero 1 & 2 in '69 and '70, friend and inspired by her

My first year at Mudd was very challenging. I was not sure that I could compete with the other high achieving students and difficult curriculum there. Being accepted to the Bates program convinced me that I should stay at Mudd. My experience with the Bates program was amazing. Iris taught me how to think problems out and get solutions.

One such time was on my first solo flight to Palomar. I realized that I had missed the airport as I started to fly over the ocean. I looked up the VOR frequency for Palomar, dialed it in, turned around an found the airport.

I remember one story about Iris. It may be part of the legend. While relaxing from ferrying planes during World War 2, Critch and Iris were at a swimming pool at an Army Air Base. Critch turned to the other pilots and said something like “Do you see my girlfriend over there? I bet she can beat every one of you any number of laps across the pool.” Naturally the pilots took the bet. Iris beat every one of them. After collecting on the bets, Critch supposedly asked the pilots “Did I mention that she swam for the US Olympic team in 1936?”

When going to the Mudd reunion days, going to see Iris and the Bates presentations was a highlight of the trip. My wife Marty and I were fortunate enough last year to visit Iris at her home and enjoyed a great afternoon with her and Sandy. Iris was and still is an inspiration for me.