WEST MILTON, Ohio -- A West Milton machinist, who became the world's first airplane passenger, was remembered Saturday afternoon in his hometown.

Local historians and the Ohio Historical Society unveiled a historical marker in honor of Charley Furnas.

May 14, 1908, Furnas flew as a passenger on separate flights. He first flew with Wilbur, then with Orrville Wright.

It was in Kitty Hawk, N.C.

The bronze historic marker is located on the front lawn of Hale Sarver Funeral Home on North Miami St. in West Milton, which is where Furnas was born and raised in 1880.

The historic marker states: CHARLES FURNAS, 1880-1941 IN 1908, WEST MILTON NATIVE CHARLES FURNAS WORKED AS A MACHINIST IN DAYTON DOING ODD JOBS FOR THE WRIGHT BROTHERS, THE INVENTORS OF THE FIRST PRACTICAL AIRPLANE. AT THAT TIME THE U.S. ARMY HAD AGREED TO PURCHASE AN AIRCRAFT FROM THE WRIGHT BROTHERS PROVIDED IT WOULD CARRY A PILOT AND A PASSENGER. FURNAS WORKED WITH THE BROTHERS TO ADAPT THEIR PLANE. ON MAY 14, 1908, HE FLEW FIRST WITH WILBUR AND THEN WITH ORVILLE, BECOMING THE WORLD'S FIRST AIRPLANE PASSENGER. FOLLOWING THE LAST FLIGHT IN 1908, THE WRIGHT BROTHERS ENGAGED CHARLES FURNAS FULL TIME. AS THE FIRST PERSON HIRED TO BUILD AIRPLANES, HE WAS THE FIRST EMPLOYEE IN WHAT WOULD BECOME THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY. HE WORKED WITH ORVILLE AND WILBUR TO DEVELOP "SIGNAL CORPS NO. 1," AMERICA'S FIRST MILITARY AIRCRAFT AND THE BEGINNING OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE. HE LEFT EMPLOYMENT WITH THE WRIGHT BROTHERS TO START A GARAGE IN WEST MILTON, BUT REMAINED FRIENDS. ORVILLE ATTENDED HIS FUNERAL IN 1941.

Sponsors of the marker are the Paul G. Duke Foundation, Hale Sarver Funeral Home, West Milton Chamber of Commerce, and the Ohio Historical Society.