Charles Lindbergh - January 2, 1928
A national hero after completing the first trans-Atlantic flight, Charles Lindbergh became TIME's first Man of the Year--not so much for his aeronautical achievements but mainly because there was little news during the week of Jan. 2, 1928. Hard pressed for a cover, TIME editors decided to showcase the year's most memorable newsmaker. A tradition was born. Under the "Heroes" section, TIME speculated that Lindbergh's next flight would be to China and reported that some Americans were wondering whether their most cherished citizen might not be safer on the ground (he never did make it to the Far East). His mother, though, believed the sky was the limit for her son. Evangeline Lodge Lindbergh told TIME, "I have always loved him, been proud of him and thought he was the world's greatest."