Wilbur and Orville Wright, owners of a bicycle shop on West Third Street, brought worldwide recognition to Dayton when they gave the world the wings to fly shortly after the turn of the century. Success came on December 17, 1903, when they flew the powered aircraft plane in a controlled flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. That success started a long record of aviation accomplishments, including the first parachute and the first solo instrument landing, which has earned Dayton the reputation as the "Birthplace of Aviation."

Charles F. Kettering, one of the country's most respected industrialists and creative inventors, made Dayton his home. He began his career as an engineer at National Cash Register (NCR) but went on to fame and fortune when he invented the automobile self starter and formed the Dayton Engineering Laboratories (later Delco) in 1909. In 1916 Delco was sold to United Motors, which later became General Motors. Kettering headed GM's research activities for 27 years, acquiring 140 patents in his name, including ethyl gasoline, the high compression auto engine and the refrigerant Freon. He became known as a great humanitarian and philanthropist, and had a great impact on the Dayton region.

Dayton has continued to progress in a growth of industrial power, in its blossoming as a center of high technology, research and information services, and in its development as a service and distribution center. In transportation, Dayton is the hub of one of the largest "90-Minute" markets in the nation.

Jeffrey A. Mullins, Partner-in-Charge

Population of Metro Area: 800,000
Major Corporations: NCR, Reynolds & Reynolds, Liberty Bank, Standard Register, WorkflowOne (formally Relizon), Huffy Bicycles, LexisNexis, and Mead prior to becoming MeadWestvaco
Cultural Offerings: Dayton Art Institute, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Dayton Opera
Professional Sports: Dayton Dragons, Dayton Bombers
Other Attractions of Note: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, SunWatch Indian Village/Archaeological Park