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 For February, one of the items that served as a main focus of
discussion and brought guests to the Workshop meeting was a proposal
to add Norm Clark's name to one of the fields at the Logan County
Airport.
Former Lincolnite and classmate of Clark's, John Fuller, recently
brought the idea forward.
Chairman of the Airport and Farm Committee, Gene Rohlfs, said on
Tuesday he would make a motion to add a field name after the name
Logan County Airport without a specific name included.
Board member Chuck Ruben said he plans to amend that motion to
strike the word 'field' and insert 'Norm Clark plaque.' Ruben said
other deserving people have been recognized that way in the past,
and plaques in the aviation building are more appropriate.
Board Chairman David Hepler motioned that the board vote on whether
to add Norm Clark Field after Logan County Airport. He said the
people who asked for the name addition at least deserve a vote on
what they asked for.
In support of the proposed name change, several guests in attendance
were friends and family members of Norm Clark, a local pilot who
died last fall.
 There were also a couple in attendance opposed to the change. The
board allowed both groups to address the proposal.
First to address the board was Curtis Fox, who said that he has
lived in Lincoln all his life. He has been flying since he was 17
years old and has been part of the airport community for 50 years.
He provided a history of the airport and the many people who have
helped make it what it is. Fox said, "I have met some wonderful
people in the aviation community, people who not only flew at the
airport, but volunteered their time to make the airport a better
place." He said many of those volunteers have contributed
significant time and money to the airport.
Fox does not support the name change and said "The motion before you
today is one that would add one name to the Logan County Airport. It
is my stand that to do so would be to ignore the many terrific
people who have contributed to the airport, including one of your
own, Bud Behrends, [and in recent years, Bob Farmer]." He said that
with so many great pilots from Logan County who have made
significant contributions over the years, adding one person's name
to [a field at] the Logan County Airport "would create an unfair
atmosphere by ignoring all who have served with distinction at the
airport."
Fox said a better alternative would be for the County Board to
"create a Logan County Aviation Honor Roll to recognize all of these
people" who have helped pioneer the airport. He closed by asking the
board to "step back from the process" and take time to do research
as they consider the proposal. Fox requested "that the County Board
vote against this measure."
Bill Sahs, a former Chairman of the Airport Committee, said he
wanted to dovetail onto Fox's remarks that there are many people who
have done a lot of work at the airport doing painting and hangar
work, and going above and beyond with work. He said he agrees with
Fox that an honor roll system would be good.
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John Fuller, who originally proposed the name change, was the next to speak.
Fuller said many people thought very highly of Norm Clark, which is why he
thinks a field should be named after him. He said he wants to single Clark out
for all he has done for the airport. Fuller said he and Clark managed the fixed
based operation at the Airport from 1975-1978 working closely with board members
such as Paul Beaver, Bud Behrends, Dwight Zimmerman, and several others. He said
there was mutual respect between he and Clark and the board during that time.
Fuller said a website has been created and many have signed a petition to
support the change. Fuller said he also has the support of 21 former Citizens of
the Year who can judge what community involvement is all about. He said he wants
more than just a plaque with many names on it.
Fuller said with all the support demonstrated by the presence of all the guests
at the Workshop, the nearly unanimous support of the Citizens of the Year, and
with the previously submitted 936 names gathered in a three week petition effort
in January, "it is a well deserved individual recognition of Norm Clark that his
name be added to the Logan County Airport."
Fuller said, "We respectfully ask that you take the next step and move forward
with an affirmative vote for Norm." Fuller said he would be available to answer
any other questions that he could.
John Guzzardo, who has lived in Lincoln his whole life, next addressed the
board. Guzzardo spoke of all the positives he has seen in the county over the
years and said the board has an opportunity to do something positive for Logan
County. He said, "You have an opportunity to take a young man who grew up here,
who was dedicated to kids, taught Sunday School, and dedicated to helping
everyone out" and honor him.
Guzzardo said the board should honor a great man who has touched many people's
lives and really cherished the community. He reminded the Board they are just
talking about renaming a field and not the whole airport. Guzzardo said the gym
at the High School and the basketball court at the Jr. High were named after
other great people who touched many lives. He asked the board to really consider
the name change as it will not hurt anybody and is more meaningful than a
plaque.
Bob Patterson said there was a misconception that the movement was to rename the
whole airport and not just a field. He said that with Norm being a pilot,
mechanic, and instructor, "it seemed logical to us to name the field where the
planes come and go after Norm." Patterson said it is a nice way to honor him as
a simple act of kindness.
The Board will vote on the motions Tuesday night.
[Angela Reiners] |
