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Captain Herman (Sam) Samuels
Captain Samuels worked for American Airlines for eight years before becoming a pilot. While working in hourly positions in just about every area of the airport operations, including baggage handler, ticket agent, ramp, fleet service and other positions, he took flying lessons during his time off. Samuels recounts, “The people I worked with told me all the time ‘you are wasting your time. American Airlines is not going to give you a job as a pilot.’ That was just fuel to me.” Samuels became a legend within the company for his determination to fly for the airline. Captain Samuels became the first African-American pilot to fly for American who was not trained in the military. He flew for the airline for 30 years,