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For John Mays, President of the Cedar Hill All Pro Dads, the dream of flying has been with him for as long as he can remember.

“I would look up just about every time I heard a plane in the sky,” he said.

Life, however, took him on a different flight path. After earning his degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas Tech, Mays started a family, added three master’s degrees, and built a successful career in the aerospace industry—spending many years with Boeing. Through it all, his passion for flying never faded.

Last year, Mays finally made that dream a reality by earning his pilot’s license.

“With the kids grown and on their own, I figured it was now or never,” he shared.

That milestone didn’t just change Mays’ life—it sparked a bigger vision for Cedar Hill. In January 2024, he launched Cedar Hill Dads Aviation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization designed not only to train future pilots, but also to give local students a head start in aviation before they graduate high school.

Working in partnership with Cedar Hill ISD, the program will expose students to exciting career paths in piloting, aircraft mechanics, and drone operations, all fields that are growing quickly and full of opportunity.

The first phase begins with a drone program for CHISD students. From there, the plan is to expand into pilot certification classes during the school day and eventually offer hands-on training at Mid-Way Airport in Midlothian.

“We’ll be facilitating the training,” Mays said. “The opportunities we’re creating for these kids are unbelievable. Only a handful of school districts in Texas offer aviation programs. McKinney ISD has one of the strongest, and we plan to learn from them so we can build something just as special right here in Cedar Hill.”

With Cedar Hill Dads Aviation, local students won’t just get to dream about flying—they’ll get the chance to spread their wings.