2019-06Resolution No. 2019 - 6
BOARDMEMBER COMBS INTRODUCED THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION:
WHEREAS, Welland "Doc" Bates started his flying career in 1946 at age of 19 and
attained the ratings of Certified Fight Instructor Instrument (CFII); and
WHEREAS, "Doc" started working at Blair Municipal Airport in 1972 as Field Manager
when it was a public use airport owned by private entity known as Flightland/Eagle Field doing
all the building and landside maintenance; and
Whereas, "Doc" was always generous in sharing his aviation knowledge and skills to all
that had questions, needed information, or needed help to solve mechanical problems, including
sharing his parts inventory; and
WHEREAS, as an instructor he graduated pilots who went on to enjoy aviation careers as
private, corporate, and commercial pilots, while others went on to serve as pilots in the United
States Air Force; and
WHEREAS, "Doc" continued to serve the Blair Airport Authority as contract field
personnel from the time the Blair Airport Authority purchased the airport in 1996 until his death
on June 16, 2018 preforming all maintenance, mowing, snow removal, and coordinating with
contractors and pilots to help promote a safe aviation environment; and
WHEREAS, "Doc" had a keen ability to work with people in a way that fostered a friendly,
encouraging, and cooperative environment that shed a positive reflection on the Blair Municipal
Airport, the City of Blair, and the Blair Airport Authority.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CHAIRMAN AND BOARDMEMBERS OF
THE BLAIR AIRPORT AUTHORITY FOR THE CITY OF BLAIR, NEBRASKA, that the
entrance road extending from the airport entrance on the north by the community style hangars
and extending south to the new southern entrance to the airport currently being planned for
construction in the summer of 2020, shall in the memory, character, and spirit of Welland "Doc"
Bates be retained and memorialized and therefore, should be named and dedicated as "Doc Bates
Aviation Drive".
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the Airport shall notify the Washington County Planning
Department of said dedication and shall direct that road signage shall be installed acknowledging
said access road naming.
BOARDMEMBER JOHNSON MOVED THAT THE RESOLUTION BE ADOPTED AS READ,
WHICH SAID MOTION WAS SECONDED BY BOARDMEMBER GENGENBACH. UPON
ROLL CALL BOARDMEMBERS COMBS, GENGENBACH, HAVEKOST, HUNT AND
JOHNSON VOTING "AYE" AND BOARDMEMBERS NONE VOTING "NAY". THE
CHAIRMAN DECLARED THE FOREGOING RESOLUTIONPASSED AND ADOPTED THIS
19TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2019.
Blair Airport Authority
eary C(Tfiibqnalrman
Attest:
Loren Havekos , Secretary
STATE OF NEBRASKA )
):ss:
WASHINTON COUNTY )
Loren Havekost, hereby certifies that he is the duly appointed, qualified, and acting Board
Secretary of the Blair Airport Authority, of the City of Blair, Nebraska, and that the above and
foregoing Resolution was duly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Airport Authority
Board held on the 19th day of November, 2019.
Loren Havekost, Secretary