Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame To Induct Four Enshrinees At the 2011 Enshrinement Banquet April 9

When it comes to saluting Georgia’s aviation pioneers, there is no other event as significant as the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame’s annual enshrinement banquet.  This year’s banquet at the Museum of Aviation on Saturday, April 9, 2011 will see four Georgia aviation legends inducted before an anticipated audience of 500 family members, friends, and admirers.  This includes not only GAHOF board members and former enshrinees, but also government, aerospace and defense industry leaders, media representatives, and aviation enthusiasts from around the state. 

The evening will include a one-hour reception held in the spacious Century of Flight Hangar at the Georgia Museum of Aviation.  Surrounded by historic aircraft as well as the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame, guests will then be treated to a gourmet dinner and live presentations to each of the four honorees.

The Enshrinees being honored in 2011 are:

Julius J. Alexander, Jr.— A pioneer in aviation education in Atlanta, Julius Alexander, Jr. achieved tremendous success in using aviation classes and flying as a tool for academic improvement and self esteem for inner city students.  The first civilian African American flight instructor to train students at Atlanta’s Fulton County Airport (Brown Field), Alexander led a team that designed Aviation Career Education (ACE) which is widely in use today in ACE camps throughout the U.S.  In 1980 Alexander founded the Aviation Career Enrichment Weekend Flight Academy, a flying school dedicated to molding young protégés into professionals in aerospace. 

 Patrick ‘Pat’ Epps–Pat Epps has been involved in flying his entire adult life.  He served as a flight test engineer for Boeing and an Air Force pilot before establishing Epps Air Service at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport in Atlanta.  Today, Epps Aviation is among the Top 10 independent fixed base operations (FBOs) in the United States.  Epps served as co-leader of the Greenland Expedition Society from 1981-1992, which recovered a Lockheed P-38 Lightning from where it had been buried under 265 feet of ice since 1942. 

Albert H. ‘Goldie’ Glenn– During 60 years in the aviation industry, Goldie Glenn introduced many industry-changing concepts to aircraft manufacturing (e.g., consolidated training/operating manuals, inter-changeable parts, warranties, pre-production maintenance reviews, and direct support for aircraft produced) that are taken for granted today.  Glenn also served as President and COO of Gulfstream on two different occasions. Under Glenn’s leadership, Gulfstream became one of the world’s premier aerospace companies and has contributed immeasurably to Georgia’s economy. 

James “Jim” Howard Rhyne— Beginning in a Piper Cub in Lafayette, Georgia, Jim turned his love of flying into a lifelong career spanning over 50 years.  He joined the Air Force in 1954-1958 flying F-84s and F-100s. While managing Gardens Aviation in Pine Mountain, he served with the Georgia Air National Guard flying the F-86L and the AC-97.  In 1962, Jim joined Air America, Inc. serving in Southeast Asia for 12 years flying survey, escort, relief, instruction, and SAR missions. He would eventually become Manager of Fight Crews.  Jim’s skills continued providing critical aviation services as he began his own private charter company which serviced customers worldwide.  Jim was considered a natural pilot, able to demonstrate the impossible while making it seem second nature. 

Seating for the 2011 Annual Enshrinement Banquet is limited and by advance reservation only. Seats are $75 per person of which $35 is tax deductible as provided by law. Attire is black tie (dark suit optional).  For further information contact the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame at 478-328-0704. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information please contact Nicole Bissette at 478-328-0704.

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