NAAA is saddened to report that Richard H. “Dick” Nixholm, one of the founding members of the National Agricultural Aviation Association in 1966, passed away Nov. 28 at the age of 95.

Dick was born Sept. 23, 1927, in Yonkers, New York, to Hilmer Harold Nixholm and Anna Nixholm. In 1937, when he was 10, Dick’s family bought a working dairy farm in Pittsgrove, New Jersey, where he helped while attending grade school and high school. Dick graduated from Vineland High School in 1945. Afterward, he enlisted in the Army and was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division based at Camp Hill in Leadville, Colorado. While there, he became part of the newly formed “Ski Soldiers” and made the rank of Corporal. Although the war ended before making it overseas, Dick was honorably discharged for his service.

Dick returned to the dairy farm to start managing it but had an itch to learn how to fly. He started taking lessons at Vineland-Downstown Airport, where he received his private pilot’s, helicopter, commercial and instructor’s licenses. He began teaching people to fly under the G.I. Bill while still managing the farm.

Pictured from L-R, Downstown Aero Crop Service co-founder Dick Nixholm, Curt Nixholm, his son, and Dick’s fellow co-founder and business partner, Peter Cugino.

In 1953, Dick decided to sell off the cows and dairy business so he could fly full-time, learning how to “crop dust” at the airport, where he met his late business partner Peter Cugino. That was when they purchased the airport and the “crop dusting” business to form Downstown Aero Crop Service in Vineland, New Jersey, where they were partners for over 50 years. As business flourished, Dick managed the aviation and agricultural side of the operation while Pete ran the grounds and aircraft maintenance. Over the years, they operated more than 10 aircraft. Dick loved to meet with farmers to discuss issues with their crops and did so for many years, becoming a self-made expert in vegetable crops. He also mentored many new pilots in agricultural aviation (Dick always disliked the term “crop duster”).

Dick accumulated over 20,000 hours of flight time, with 17,000 of those hours “all under 10 feet,” as he would call it. From flying Piper Cub Dusters to Stearmans and onto his beloved 450-horsepower Ag-Cat, he always had a love for flying. From fighting wildfires and spraying mosquitos to treating vegetables, cranberries, and blueberries, Dick did it all.

He was the charter president of the Northeast Agricultural Aviation Association, formed in 1966, and was on the original committee that formed the National Agricultural Aviation Association in Washington, D.C. He was also a charter member of the Half-a-Hundred Club, a group that was originally populated with about 50 agricultural aviation operators from across the country.

In 1986, Dick and his business partner Pete were awarded NAAA’s William O. Marsh Safety Award, which recognizes achievements in safety and education. Dick was most proud of this award, as he always promoted safe flying in the agricultural aviation industry. His final aerial spray application before his retirement was on Oct. 10, 2005, at the age of 78.

For many years, Dick would spend the winter months at his second home in Jupiter, Florida. He was an avid world traveler who loved to deep sea fish, spend time with his grandchildren, and, most of all, entertain his family and friends, who loved his ability to add humor into any conversation with his quick wit.

Dick was preceded in death by his first wife, Winifred B. Nixholm (nee Becker), baby daughter Beth Ann, baby son Scott, and his second wife, Ruth Nixholm (nee Christman).

He is survived by his son, Curtis Nixholm, and daughter-in-law, Shari Nixholm (nee Masatani), grandchildren Jessica Nixholm, Sean Nixholm and Kylie Nixholm, and favorite grand-dog Quincy the Chiweenie of Pittsgrove, as well as stepdaughter Janis Owens and her husband, Glen, of Pittsgrove, step-granddaughter Shannon Groome and her husband, Jim, great-grandson Avery and his wife Brittany Fralick and son Bryson of Millville, and great-grandson Logan Groome of the U.S. Navy.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Dick’s name to:

National Agricultural Aviation Research and Education Foundation
c/o NAAA
1440 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314