Averett University flight center dedicated

Averett University President Tiffany Franks and Averett Vice President for Institutional Advancement Buddy Rawle presents Betty Falk a framed photo of George J. Falk at a dedication ceremony Friday.

George and Betty Falk have been a force in the Averett University community for years.

On Friday, the late George Falk was honored for his years of service with Averett when the Flight Operations Center was dedicated to him.

Falk, who died Dec. 31, was the director of financial aid at Averett and was instrumental in forming the aviation program. Before that, he served in World War II in the U.S. Army as a pilot and spent 23 years with Dan River Inc.

The aviation school was his passion. It was formed in 1980 and is now the sixth largest major at Averett.

Aviation student Dan Schaffer said Falk’s gift to the program has provided them with new equipment and hardware to enhance the programs, including the spidertacks that allow the chief flight instructor to track the students flying.

“The addition of the spidertracks GPS tracking system not only enhances safety, but can be used as a great training tool for aviation students as well,” said Travis Williams, chief flight instructor. “And the added weather stations in the Flight Operations Center make it easier for students to prepare for each flight in one location, using one resource.”

Most of the dedication ceremony was spent honoring George Falk. His grandson, Adam Sanders, talked about how his grandfather taught him many things and how he loved working with the students.

“He really always was a teacher,” said Sanders.

Jeff Gilliam, an airline captain, said Falk was always providing him with “fatherly advice.”

“For the people that never knew him, you missed a great man,” said Gilliam.

More than 50 people attended the dedication, including Falk’s daughter, Susan, and his grandchildren. Averett President Tiffany Franks presented Betty Falk with a picture of George Falk that will hang in the Flight Operations Center.

Betty Falk has also volunteered with Averett for many years. Franks said it is not surprising to find Betty Falk on campus, still working and volunteering for the students.

Because of her donation to the aviation school, the dedication was possible, but it was George Falk’s work that made the aviation school possible.

“A lot of the alumni here will tell you, had it not been for George, they would have never gone into aviation,” Franks said.

Source:  http://www2.wsls.com