Welcoming the San Antonio Road Show Personnel to the Family
December 18, 2025
Receiving a King Aerospace polo shirt that proudly displays the company’s Gold Wings is a special moment for all company employees, including the seventy-eight new members of the King Aerospace Road Show team who earned their wings in a special ceremony last month in San Antonio, TX.
Wearing the Gold Wings marks not only validation of a new hire’s job aptitude and skills, but also their commitment to God, Country and Family and to representing King Aerospace with honor and integrity.
Newly-hired employees are typically eligible to receive their Gold Wings following a 90-day probationary period; however, they are not awarded automatically. A group of the employee’s peers meets first to determine if they have earned their wings – and, on occasion, to recommend areas for improvement before receiving them.
While Road Show members don’t often wear King Aerospace uniforms, all personnel at the San Antonio location must do so while on the job. The customer’s immediate needs also meant those workers would be sporting their King Aerospace shirts sooner than the typical 90-day period.
Kay Roby-Bragg, a 29-year employee of the company, notes what began as a special circumstance to meet the customer’s requirement became something far more significant and meaningful. “Issuing a few shirts wouldn’t be a big deal at most companies,” she says, “but King Aerospace isn’t like other companies.
“The Gold Wings aren’t a logo,” Roby-Bragg adds. “Those who wear them have earned that privilege as employees of King Aerospace, and every member of the team in San Antonio represents us to our customer.”
Jack Vanderslice, controller for King Aerospace Commercial Corporation (KACC), emphasizes the Road Show team will still undergo the usual probationary period. To ensure their familiarity with King Kulture, each team member also went through a comprehensive training program highlighting the meaning behind the Cornerstone Principles and their embodiment through the Gold Wings.
“We carefully vetted all new hires who weren’t current or previous employees to ensure we had a team of all top-notch, cream of the crop people,” adds Vanderslice. “They already knew we operate a little differently than most places, and they’re proud to truly become a part of the King Aerospace team.”
“No Other Company Does This”
While that training was underway, many others at King Aerospace worked behind the scenes to plan a ceremony worthy of the moment’s significance. Those efforts led to a celebratory dinner gathering Nov. 6 at The Barn Door Restaurant, which holds special childhood memories for company Founder and Chairman Jerry King.
“By the grace of God I learned here in San Antonio that hard work does pay off,” he told attendees. “Sixty-plus years ago, my dad made extra money working at a beer joint off Vance Jackson Road. If that joint had a good night, they’d take the workers to a restaurant that was fine dining to my poor parents, and my mother would come home raving about the shrimp cocktail.
“That fine dining place was called The Barn Door,” he continued. “So tonight, as we’re all here together, we’re having shrimp cocktail for my mom.”
Company President Jarid King and other senior team members joined King in presiding over the winging ceremony that also included a tribute to the fallen soldier, emphasizing the importance of service to God, Country and Family.
“Mr. King then spoke about the company and the importance of earning your Gold Wings and keeping them shiny,” says Payroll Specialist Wendy Harding, who also helped organize the event. “There was a real sense of excitement and anticipation in the room.”
Next, the Road Show members were called individually to the stage to receive and sign their King Aerospace pledge cards before receiving their shirts. After reciting the pledge before those present – affirming their commitment to the company’s values, principles, and dedication to customer satisfaction – they moved to an adjacent room to change.
“They all had smiles on their faces when they walked back out,” says People Department Generalist Kimberly White. “There was an immense sense of pride and excitement. “I’ve participated in many of the ceremonies here at KACC, but this was something different and on a grander scale by far.”
“It was very heartwarming to see,” adds Harding. “You could feel the pride in the room. Contractors go from one job to the next, so companies don’t usually lay out the red carpet or go the extra mile to make them feel special. These folks knew they are part of the King Aerospace family, too.”
The event reminded Executive Assistant Amariah Gonzales-Reyes of her own winging ceremony in 2020. “No other company does this, right?” she concludes. “These events are perfect examples of what King Aerospace is as a company, and who we continue striving to be. We practice what we preach.”