Charles Szalkowski is a retired senior partner of the law firm of Baker Botts L.L.P., where he practiced transactional law for more than 35 years.
He has been interested in aviation since childhood, primarily because his father (who was transferred to Texas by the Army Air Corps during World War II and was later a long-time civilian employee of the USAF) made sure that they never missed an airshow.
Thanks to a good friend, he has logged many hours as a crew member of various restored warbirds, and he has attended virtually all of the major American airshows at least once.
He has been involved with the Lone Star Flight Museum since 1987 when it was located at Hobby Airport — first as a fan and patron, but later as a member, life member, volunteer, director, and vice-chairman.
Charles is also a Gold Life Member of the Commemorative Air Force and a member of numerous other aviation organizations.
He serves as a Trustee Emeritus of Rice University, and as a director or board committee member of his church, two children’s charities, a business development organization, and a foundation promoting sensible business law reform in Texas. He is also a director of a NYSE-listed company.
He holds two bachelor’s degrees from Rice, and an MBA and a JD from Harvard.
He is married, with two children and three granddaughters, and lives in Houston.