The estate of longtime Alaskans Henry and Lottie O'Neal, has made a $1.6 million donation to the Salk Institute. The donation was made by their estate in honor of the O'Nealses nephew who contracted and overcame polio at the age of one despite losing an arm to the disease. The Institute, named for Jonas Salk, creator of the polio vaccine, is "one of the world's preeminent basic research institutions, where internationally renowned faculty probe fundamental life science questions in a unique, collaborative, and creative environment" according to the Institute's website. A press release announcing the donation said that Henry flew the Berlin Airlift 10 times following World War II -- in which he also served as a flight engineer.
From the press release:
The O'Neals, originally from Arkansas, adopted the frontier state as their primary home in 1950 and became active figures in the state's aviation and real estate development industries. Henry's post-war career with Alaska Airlines' reflected his adventurous spirit, culminating in 1951 when he served as the flight engineer on the first commercial flight over the North Pole. Henry retired from Alaska Airlines in 1968. Lottie also enjoyed a colorful and successful career in the healthcare industry, directly supporting and developing seven Native Hospitals in Anchorage. In their spare time, the couple contributed to the Anchorage community by developing homes for Anchorage's growing population.
The O'Neals never had children, but the longtime Alaska aviator and his wife "saw the Salk as a way to support kids around the world," according to Henry's sister Norma.