George S. “Spanky” Roberts, a local American hero born in 1918 and died in 1984, graduated from Dunbar H.S. and WV State College and became the first African-American aviation cadet at Tuskegee in 1941. Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and pilot in 1942, he flew over 100 missions in Africa, Europe and the Middle East, commanded the 99th Fighter Sq. and the 332nd Fighter Group in WWII, and was decorated for meritorious service in WWII, Korea, and a 25 year career.