Donald Nyrop

Donald William Nyrop (April 1, 1912 – November 16, 2010) served as U.S. Administrator of Civil Aeronautics (now the Federal Aviation Administration) and Chairman of the U.S. Civil Aeronautics Board (now National Transportation Safety Board) under President Harry S. Truman in the early 1950s.

Nyrop moved his family to Edina, Minnesota, where he served as president, CEO and chairman of the board of Northwest Airlines from 1954–1976. He was the father of Bill Nyrop (1952 – 1995) who was a professional ice hockey player who won three Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens in 1976, 1977, and 1978. He was also the CEO of Northwest Airlines when D.B. Cooper committed the famous hijacking in 1971.