On April 9th, for the seventh year running, our Society hosted the VAHS Spring Party and Fund Raising Auction at the Virginia Aviation Museum. With over 200 members and guests attending, we raised close to $14,000 which will directly fund the operation and programs of the Society. Our success was in large part due to the continued sponsorship of the evening by The Brinks Corporation and its Chairman, Frank Lennon. Also providing sponsorship for the evening was Phillip Morris, USA, USI Insurance, Phoenix Aviation Managers, Delta Airport Consultants, Campbell and Paris and Talbert and Bright. Former board Chairman Al Orgain once again loaned his auctioneering talents to our cause and kept the live auction both lively and entertaining. The evening would not be complete without Al on stage. Later in this issue you will see photos of the evening’s festivities. I hope you enjoy them and that you will make plans to join us next April.
One of the highlights of the Spring party is the presentation of the William Spain Excellence in Leadership Award. Each spring, just prior to the live auction, the Spain award is presented by the Society to a member who has taken an uncommon leadership role in the Society. This year we were proud to recognize Linda Burdette for her ongoing role in making our “Virginia Eagles” newsletter informative and interesting. Linda has written numerous feature articles expanding the breadth of our coverage of Virginia’s aviation history. We are fortunate to have Linda’s talent and effort working to improve what is one of our most visible projects.
On June 6th I represented the Society at the Grand Opening ceremony of the new Hampton Roads Airport terminal building. Owners Andy Gibb and Steve Fox hosted a wonderful event that included a women’s barbershop style quartet for entertainment. Also, an excellent BBQ lunch was provided which explained the large number of professional pilots in attendance. As part of the opening ceremony I was asked to present the stories of four gentlemen who have been instrumental in the development of aviation in Hampton Roads and who were being honored at the opening. These men, Capt. Henry Pascale, Alston M. Stevens, Curtis Eads, Sr. and Joe Mathias are all members of the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame and as a tribute to these men their Hall of Fame portraits and biographies will be on display in the terminal. It is good to see these gentlemen honored for their contributions in their home area. In addition to the terminal opening there was a ceremonial ground breaking for the field’s new east-west runway. The rebuilt runway will be off set to the north and west as well as lengthened to accommodate larger airplanes. The new terminal and runway will provide improved services and utility at what has been, and continues to be, one of Virginia’s premier general aviation airports.
For our members in the Tidewater area who have not had the opportunity to attend a meeting of the VAHS Williamsburg chapter you owe it to yourself to pay them a visit. Meetings are held at the Williamsburg Jamestown airport on the 3rd Wednesday of each month and there is always an interesting program on the agenda. Lunch on the field follows at Charly’s restaurant. I recommend the crab bisque.
Until the next issue stay well and thank you for supporting the VAHS.
Tom Woodburn
VAHS Chairman