James Robert Hart

James Robert Hart passed away March 18, 2016 at his home in Dawsonville, GA after a lengthy illness. He was born in Wooster, OH on Nov. 9, 1949 to the late Alice (Morgan) and Leland B. Hart formerly of Wooster, OH and Tavares, FL.

Hart attended high school at Culver Military Academy in Indiana where he graduated in 1968. He continued his education at The Citadel, Charleston, SC, graduating in 1972 as a Distinguished Military Graduate with a Business degree and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the US Air Force. While at the Citadel, he was active in the Flying Club and served as the Regimental Sergeant Major his junior year and the Commander of "O" Company, 4th Battalion his senior year.

After graduation from The Citadel he underwent pilot training at Laughlin AFB, in Del Rio Texas. He was posted to the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, and was based in Thailand during the Vietnam War. Predominately an air-to-air combat flying unit flying the F-4 Phantom and was involved in a number of US operations.

Completing his tour in Thailand, Hart was assigned to the 64th Fighter Weapons Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nevada where he was promoted to Captain and flew the F-5E to simulate the Mig-21 in air combat training. He became a charter member of the 65th Aggressor Squadron where he served with distinction until leaving for a career with Delta Airlines.

Hart began his 36 year flying career with Delta in 1978 flying the B727, DC9 and MD88 as a flight engineer. Subsequent to his promotion to Captain he flew the 757, 767 and the 777. It was on the 777 that Jim completed his last fourteen years flying internationally and retired November of 2014.

Hart was an avid life long aviator, beginning his flying career at the age of 16. He possessed both pilot and instructor ratings in multiple aircraft types. He loved general aviation flying and flew out of Gainesville, GA.

When not in the air, he enjoyed fishing trips to Canada with his son Bryan and friends, living and boating with family on Lake Lanier and taking in the view from the deck of his cabin in Bozeman, Montana. Hart spent his last year in the company of his loving family, many close friends and his Citadel classmates with whom he shared a special bond. He is survived by wife Anita Adkins Hart, daughter Katherine of Bozeman, MT, son Bryan of Dawsonville,GA, brother John (Jack) Hart and sister-in-law Dr Laurel Berry-Hart of Bluffton, SC, sister Judy Fagan of Columbus, OH, sister-in-law Alyse Adkins Brand and brother-in-law Skip Brand of Sarasota, FL, two nieces, two nephews, two grand nieces and a grand nephew.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jim's honor may be made to defeatgbm.org, Shepherd Center, give.shepherd.org or Dawson County Humane Society.