Bernard “Bud” Sweet

Cincinnati-born Bud Sweet served in the Air Corps in World War II before attending the University of Wisconsin. He lectured on airline regulation and worked as a general accountant for Wisconsin Central Airlines in 1948. He rose through the ranks, becoming assistant treasurer, secretary-treasurer, vice president and finally president and CEO in 1976.

Before he retired in 1984, Sweet helped Wisconsin-Central become North Central Airlines, forged a merger with Southern to become Republic Airlines, and helped his growing airline absorb Hughes Airwest.