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Airport road would honor FF war hero
Published Thursday, May 15, 2008
A proposed name change near the Fergus Falls Municipal Airport will honor a local war hero.
If approved by the city council Monday, the airport entrance road will be renamed “Einar Mickelson Road,” honoring the Otter Tail County native who lost his life as a pilot during World War II.
Giving the airport entrance road a proper name is especially important in light of proposed changes to the road itself, said City Engineer Dan Edwards. Those changes include improvements to turn lanes and the bituminous road overlay.
“We could just call it airport entrance road, but that’s not very classy,” Edwards told members of the Public Works and Safety Committee Thursday.
Mickelson was a Henning native who moved to Fergus Falls after graduating from high school. He earned a degree in economics and social work from North Dakota State University in 1940, deciding to enlist in the Naval Air Force a short time later. He resigned his commission a few months later and joined the Flying Tigers, a group of volunteer pilots who allied with China in its war against Japan.
Mickelson was considered a war hero in Fergus Falls when he came home for some rest and medical attention in April 1943. Back in Asia, his plane was seen turning into a cloud bank to avoid Japanese fighter planes, with the wreckage of his plane discovered on a mountainside in 1944. His remains were never recovered.
The local airport was dedicated Einar Mickelson Field in September 1948.
In addition to discussing the name change, the city council will host a public hearing on proposed airport improvements at Monday’s 5:30 p.m. meeting at City Hall.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by Flashbang (anonymous) on May 15, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe the naming of the airport road should be reconsidered. I am not against naming it Einar Mickelson Rd., but I would like to see it named Joe Devorak Rd.
Joe did more to promote aviation and dedicated a lot of his time to getting the Fergus Airport to where it is today. The airfield is named after Mr. Mickelson, why not the road named for someone who promoted aviation, gave flight lessons, flew countless hours of charter flying, spraying and giving airplane rides? Joe Devorak did all this and more. If I were back in Fergus, I'd be at the council meeting promoting Joe's name for the airport road.
Posted by chipmunk (anonymous) on May 15, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Naming the airport road after Joe Devork would be proper and fitting. In addition to the accomplishments listed by flashbang, Joe was a WWII hero in his own right, and an ace in the truest sense of the word.
Posted by prowler (anonymous) on May 15, 2008 at 3:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with both the above. Let's spread out the recognition a little here and not give it all to one individual.
Posted by gumball (anonymous) on May 15, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think it should be named after Joe Devorak also. I remember Joe promoted the airport all the time. It would be a fitting tribute to Joe & his family.
Posted by jafo (anonymous) on May 15, 2008 at 6:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yup, it should be Devorak Drive.
Posted by Flashbang (anonymous) on May 15, 2008 at 7:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is there anyone back in Fergus who could make it to the council meeting to suggest renaming it in honor of Joe? I agree with the other folks posting here. We have to remember that Joe also was also a flight examiner. Which means student pilots and private pilots came to him to get their private pilots license or commercial license.
I salute Mr. Mickelson and giving the ultimate for his country, but Joe spent his entire life promoting the airport. He was always there for the public who needed to go somewhere anytime 24/7. I think Joe should be honored with the road leading to the airport complex. As I said in my first post, if I were in Fergus, I would be there. But being out east makes it impossible at this time. Could anyone find the time to attend the meeting?
Posted by sweetfergusgirl (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What about Lucky Shol? He did so much for that airport when he was the owner/manager. He was also a WWII vet.
Posted by doughaus (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 8:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Joe was a true hero also.
He was a legend in the Fergus and surrounding area's.
He rightfully should get the road right in front of his house named after him.
Doug Hauschild
Posted by Flashbang (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 10:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lucky Shol was the owner of West Central Airways and the airport manager for the City of Fergus Falls. He bought his interest from Joe. And Lucky did work hard keeping aviation alive in Fergus but it was Joe who was in the trenches from the beginning working to make it a better airport and a landing facility to bring aircraft into Fergus no matter what the weather. I believe Joe deserves to honored for his tireless efforts in putting Fergus on the aeronautical charts.
I'm not sure, but I think I'm close to thinking that Doug Hauschild is the current airport manager so I would like to ask Doug if he would represent all the pilots and those who knew Joe at the upcoming meeting where they will decide one way or another on naming the road.
Keep in mind, Doug, if you do this, you will have the backing of many pilots and those who knew Joe and what his mission was all about. You will also have the backing of many people from the Dept. of Aeronautics in MN who knew Joe and dealt with him.
He was not only a hero from WWII but a here to many pilots who sat in the left seat taking lessons from a man who was born to fly. Those of us who have Joe's signiture in our logbooks must realize that we took lessons from a man who played a grand part in aviation, not only in Fergus but throughout Minnesota and the upper midwest.
Joe Devorak Rd or Joe Devorak Dr makes sense to me and many.
Posted by bryanhaus (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i agree that another name is needed, especially a person who has dedicated their life to this airport. i have nothing against Einar Mickelson, in fact i am jealuos of his accomplishments and wish i were born in his era. i plan on being at this meeting, and any one who wants to contact me with their ideas, i will represent those to the city. the airport number is 218-739-3733. bryan hauschild (acting airport manager).
Posted by Flashbang (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Bryan for your support and efforts in this matter. I would like to suggest to those reading this and who are in agreement with renaming the road to honor Joe Devorak, post your agreement and reasons on this site and maybe Bryan can print them out and bring them to the meeting on Monday. It's never too late get a few more people in favor of Joe's name to the road to post here.
Again, thank you Bryan for your efforts.
Posted by bryanhaus (anonymous) on May 19, 2008 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i need real peoples names as well, i don't believe the city will give much value in usernames. since i never knew mr. devorak, i need facts to present. who started west central aerial sprayers, who was instrumental in getting the main terminal built, who taught and inspired people to fly, etc? bryan
Posted by Flashbang (anonymous) on May 19, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bryan, you may want to contact Dan Vigesaa. He now lives in Fergus. He worked for Joe for many years. He would be a very solid contact. He could help you with names, etc.
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