DALLAS — Staff Sgt. Homer Hogues, one of the last known surviving Tuskegee Airmen, died Tuesday in Dallas at 96.
His death came two days after the death of his wife, Mattie Hogues. They were married for 76 years. Funeral arrangements are being made for them together.
Hogues was an airplane and engine mechanic as a part of the 99th Fighter Squadron in the 332nd Fighter Group. He was one of the first African-American military pilots, paving the way for people of color.
The Tuskegee Airmen dared to dream and became the first African-Americans to fly combat missions.
A WFAA Original was produced about Hogues in 2019. A GoFundMe was set up at the time to help provide him a wheelchair van, at-home healthcare and a remodel of his home for handicap accessibility.
More than $27,000 was raised for Hogues after the story ran. An additional $61,000 was donated by organizations across North Texas to provide labor and supplies to remodel his home.
His wife waited by the door for him. A crowd of friends, family and donors were there to welcome him back.
"I didn't know that many people cared about me, but I thank them, thank them, thank them from the bottom of my heart," Hogues said at the time.
The walls of his room were filled with memories and photos, as he continued to share the Tuskegee story, including that he "got a chance to work on the P47 Thunderbolt."
A viewing for Homer and Mattie Hogues will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at Evergreen Funeral Home in Dallas. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. July 1 at Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, 7550 S. Hampton.