Airport terminal officially open
Neil Armstrong Airport holds dedication, ceremony for new terminal
Auglaize County and Neil Armstrong Airport officials cut the ribbon on the new terminal building Saturday, a ceremonial formality that brought to a close a project more than a decade in the making.
“Just as JFK said about the vision to land on the moon, it was not easy,” Commissioner Doug Spencer said. “This was a project that was not won without big challenges, not won without frustrations and was not won with a short timeline.”
Spencer said the idea to replace the terminal building was being discussed when he first ran for county commissioner in 2006.
“It was a project so vitally important to keep forging ahead and as the board of county commissioners always like to confirm, a project that did not incur one red cent of debt,” Spencer said.
He thanked project engineer Matt Quinter of Baumer Construction, the company that built the terminal.
“Matt, your pragmatic approach and ease of working with all of us is to be commended,” Spencer said.
He thanked tenants and airport maintenance staff, and praised county staff for working with the FAA for grants. He also thanked Airport Manager Ted Bergstrom for his leadership and vision to make this long-awaited event happen.
He reminded those in attendance one only ever gets a second chance to make a first impression.
“Take a look at this terminal building, the gateway to Auglaize County. A definite economic development driv
er. What a first impression,” Spencer said.
Airport Authority President Brent Ricther also thanked county staff and Bergstrom as well as sponsors who donated to the project.
Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) called the airport a model for regional airports.
“The addition of this new terminal just adds to that,” Huffman said, adding it was a great airport because of the hard work and dedication of local officials.
House Rep. Susan Manchester (R-Waynesfield) called it a wonderful opportunity for Auglaize County.
“We have such a rich heritage when it comes to aviation, and I couldn’t be more proud to have this right here in Auglaize County.”
Airport Manager Ted Bergstrom reflected on the lengthy process and historic nature of the building.
“This has been 15 years in the making, through a lot of different redesigns and a lot of different changes, we were finally able to get what we got for a very beautiful building,” he said.
He called Saturday’s event reminiscent of the first airport dedication in 1967.
“Looking back into history when this building was first dedicated in 1967, the county Commissioners, Governor Rhodes 2,500 local community members, and Neil Armstrong himself all came out,” Bergstrom said, adding at that time Armstrong had recently successfully commanded the Gemini 8 mission in 1966.
Bergstrom said Armstrong was proud of the cooperation between state and local governments to create the airport and called it a real sign of progress.
Retired Astronaut Greg Johnson, a veteran of two space shuttle flights and a test pilot for Lockheed Martin, reflected on being inspired by Armstrong and growing up near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Johnson remembered his parents waking him up to watch the Apollo XI lunar landing and was inspired to pursue spaceflight.
“I always knew I wanted to fly airplanes, the dream of flying in space was just a dream,” he said.
Johnson noted Armstrong was “a great astronaut, but an amazing aviator.” Armstrong could fly before he could legally drive.
Johnson remembered Armstrong’s passion for airplanes and flying when Armstrong came to speak to his class of astronauts in 1998.
Johnson said it was a great honor to fly on the Lear Jet Armstrong set records in on its journey to Auglaize County.
“It flies just like a T-38, and I’m sad that it’s going to be retired, but I’m also very excited it’s being celebrated in this community,” he said.
He called the terminal building an amazing evolution.
“We’ve taken that small step,” Johnson said, “that started with the grass airfield, then it became paved, then different pockets of airplanes started coming here because they loved flying. Now it’s a permanent presence. It’s a destination for people to come to the Neil Armstrong Airport.”
Former Airport Manager Gary Katterheinrich noted his first business cards featured the phrase “The airport that cooperation built.” He said the “unbelievable” cooperation among county commissioners, county engineers, the airport authority, the Ohio Division of Aviation, neighbors, and users of the airport was unique in projects like airports back in the day.
He shared stories about Armstrong flying into New Knoxville, always under the radar, but always willing talk about flying and planes with people who shared his passion.
Armstrong’s sister June Armstrong attended the dedication ceremony and appreciated the design of the new building.
“It’s very open,” she said.