A plaque inside the newly named Lewis B. Finch Jr. Administration Building portrays the late Millville Municipal Airport manager.
MILLVILLE — He’s known as the father of Millville Municipal Airport.
On Thursday, the airport was able to give something back.
In a ceremony that included officials from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the municipal airport and the city, the Millville Airport Administration Building was renamed to honor the facility’s late champion, Lewis B. Finch Jr.
In a ceremony that included officials from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the municipal airport and the city, the Millville Airport Administration Building was renamed to honor the facility’s late champion, Lewis B. Finch Jr.
For Millville Commissioner Dale Finch, the son of the former airport manager, it was an emotional day.
“It’s just so humbling; my family is very honored,” said Finch, following the ceremony, nearly at a loss for words. “This place was something he dedicated his life to for 27 years, and this is a tremendous honor.”
Lewis Finch served as manager of Millville Municipal Airport from 1974 until his death in 2002 at the age of 75. Because of his work, the airport was over the years able to secure millions of dollars in federal funding to upgrade the runway, taxiway and lighting infrastructure at the aviation center.
He was the recipient of the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame award for his accomplishments at the MIllville airport, and had been honored for outstanding service to the aviation community by the FAA.
However, it took until this week for the airport to officially recognize Finch’s contributions.
His best friend, 90-year-old World War II pilot Bill Rich had been lobbying officials at the airport to honor Finch for years.
He wouldn’t call it “lobbying,” though.
“I’ve been raising hell for the past three years,” he said outside the newly renamed administration building.
Rich flew P-47 Thunderbolts during the war, and trained gunners at Millville Municipal Airport.
He and Finch later helped establish the Millville Army Airfield Museum, where a mural of Rich adorns a wall.
“If Finch could be here right now, he’d be so proud,” said Rich. “He’d have a lump in his throat.
“He was so proud of this base, this airport.”
According to Donna Vertolli, a Millville Army Airfield Museum board member, Finch was not someone who strayed from a mission.
“He was rough and fair, and he got things done,” said Vertolli. “Of course, back then it didn’t take an act of Congress to bring all this to the airport.
“But he worked and worked to make the airport what it is today.”
Those who attended the ceremony to in tribute to Finch included U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo and Millville Mayor Tim Shannon, who recalled memories of the man from his childhood.
“I’ve known Lew since I was 6 years old,” said Shannon. “He loved the City of Millville, but the airport was his baby. When it came to federal funding for the airport, Lew was tenacious, getting as much as he could and no one did more to further its development than Lew Finch. I am pleased that the authority recognized his legacy.”
Source: http://www.nj.com
“It’s just so humbling; my family is very honored,” said Finch, following the ceremony, nearly at a loss for words. “This place was something he dedicated his life to for 27 years, and this is a tremendous honor.”
Lewis Finch served as manager of Millville Municipal Airport from 1974 until his death in 2002 at the age of 75. Because of his work, the airport was over the years able to secure millions of dollars in federal funding to upgrade the runway, taxiway and lighting infrastructure at the aviation center.
He was the recipient of the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame award for his accomplishments at the MIllville airport, and had been honored for outstanding service to the aviation community by the FAA.
However, it took until this week for the airport to officially recognize Finch’s contributions.
His best friend, 90-year-old World War II pilot Bill Rich had been lobbying officials at the airport to honor Finch for years.
He wouldn’t call it “lobbying,” though.
“I’ve been raising hell for the past three years,” he said outside the newly renamed administration building.
Rich flew P-47 Thunderbolts during the war, and trained gunners at Millville Municipal Airport.
He and Finch later helped establish the Millville Army Airfield Museum, where a mural of Rich adorns a wall.
“If Finch could be here right now, he’d be so proud,” said Rich. “He’d have a lump in his throat.
“He was so proud of this base, this airport.”
According to Donna Vertolli, a Millville Army Airfield Museum board member, Finch was not someone who strayed from a mission.
“He was rough and fair, and he got things done,” said Vertolli. “Of course, back then it didn’t take an act of Congress to bring all this to the airport.
“But he worked and worked to make the airport what it is today.”
Those who attended the ceremony to in tribute to Finch included U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo and Millville Mayor Tim Shannon, who recalled memories of the man from his childhood.
“I’ve known Lew since I was 6 years old,” said Shannon. “He loved the City of Millville, but the airport was his baby. When it came to federal funding for the airport, Lew was tenacious, getting as much as he could and no one did more to further its development than Lew Finch. I am pleased that the authority recognized his legacy.”
Source: http://www.nj.com
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