The Iowa Aviation Museum in Greenfield has announced an upcoming dedication ceremony will honor 27 men and women whose hard work has created the Iowa general aviation industry we enjoy today.
Opening in May 1990, the Iowa Aviation Museum, located in Greenfield, was formed to preserve, display and educate the public on Iowa’s rich aviation heritage. The collection includes many vintage aircraft and other historical memorabilia ranging from balloons of the 1800s to Iowa’s contribution to space exploration.

Aviation legend Howard Gregory dedicated the museum to the original Aviation Pioneers, the men and women whose hard work, tireless hours and sometimes dangerous efforts created the Iowa general aviation industry of airports, aerial transportation, instruction and agriculture applicators. As the museum approaches its silver anniversary, officials are honoring the next generation of Iowa aviation promoters.

These are the airport operators, pilots, mechanics, and salesmen whose untiring efforts continued the work of their predecessors to give us the Iowa aviation system we enjoy today. Many are the sons and daughters of the original aviation pioneers and for this reason shall be referred to as the “2nd Generation.”

Twenty-seven individuals were chosen by their peers and will be recognized at a formal ceremony including the dedication of a plaque bearing their names. Those names include: Jim Bartholomew;  Charles Hawley; Ron Remmers; Larry Berens; Russ Knok; Hazel Sigafoose; Willard Carson; Bill Kyle; Dan C.B. Smith; Jim Connell; Ernie LeClaire; Bill Smothers; Mike Connell; Gary & Janet Lewis; J.B. Straley; Robert Dahl; John Lowe; Jerry Strunk; Ed Doyle; Ivan McBride; John Tibben; Richard Drake; Bob Mosley; Dick Westbrook;Paul Elmegreen;  Lee Nichols and Russell Zangger.

The Iowa Aviation Museum is honoring the “2nd Generation Iowa Aviation Promoters at a ceremony to take place Sunday, August 24th during the 22nd annual “Wings” fly-in. Breakfast served from 7:30-11 with ceremony and plaque unveiling at 10. The public is invited. For more information call the Iowa Aviation Museum at 641-343-7184.