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Council considers namesake for airport road
Published Monday, May 19, 2008
Fergus Falls city council members say they’ll consider multiple options for the renaming of the airport entrance road following a request from the facility’s manager Monday.
Specifically, manager Bryan Hauschild asked the council consider naming the road after Joe Devorak, a World War II veteran and designated flight examiner who served as the airport manager and founded West Central Aerial Sprayers in 1948.
City staff had originally proposed the road be named for Einar Mickelson, a World War II veteran, Fergus Falls resident and namesake of the airfield. The move for an official street name comes as the city undertakes a series of upgrades to the airport road, including a three-inch overlay and new right turn lane — improvements approved at Monday’s council meeting.
Hauschild said about a dozen people had contacted him about the road name since last week, including three out-of-towners.
“Mr. Mickelson did great things for our country and China both,” he said, “but as far as someone who did something locally, I think Mr. Devorak did more than anyone.”
Mayor Russ Anderson was a friend of Devorak and remembers the pilot’s passion for children.
“He was a remarkable guy — an excellent pilot and a wonderful friend, too,” Anderson said. “I think this would be a great way to honor him.”
A Madison native, Devorak was inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in 2004, the same year of his death.
Council members and city staff said they would gather more input on potential road names and bring the subject back to a later meeting.
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 20, 2008 at 6:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is good news for the aviation community in Fergus Falls and the Midwest. Bryan Hauschild deserves a well-earned pat on the back for steering the council members to look at other naming options, but given the qualifications for naming a road, there is no other name for that road except something that indicates it belongs to Joe Devorak. I for one am going to email the council members and show support for Joe's road.
Again, thank you Bryan for what you have done with this project.
Posted by sweetfergusgirl (anonymous) on May 20, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think the city council should consider Lucky Shol for this honor. His work and committment to the Fergus Falls Municipal Airport should not go unrecognized.
Posted by bryanhaus (anonymous) on May 20, 2008 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
An idea that was discussed is naming the terminal Shol Terminal, since it was Lucky who saw it through completion. bryan
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