| Mike Pirtle: Fitzhugh key in development of Smyrna Airport |
|
|
Posted: Monday, August 10, 2009 2:15 pm
|
 Email  Print
|
Ironically, the second floor meeting room of the superb Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority offices served as the host site for a reception welcoming new StoneCrest Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Mark Sims Thursday evening.
At the same time visitation was under way for retired Lt. Col. Steve Fitzhugh.
The reception site existed because of the efforts of Fitzhugh some two decades ago when he led a major community effort to wrestle control of the then neglected former Seward Air Base from Nashville’s Metropolitan Airport Authority.
The Nashville folk had stepped in years previous to provide expertise for the former military base but simply couldn’t give the Smyrna facility the attention and focus it needed. Consider how the Nashville airport has been completely recreated in the past 20 years and that becomes understandable.
But, of course, the Nashville officials didn’t want to give up control of the Smyrna facility.
With Fitzhugh a driving force this community pulled together the political clout, reasonable arguments and resources necessary to take over the Smyrna airport.
Possibly more importantly, it could only be done with Fitzhugh as a critical source of knowledge and expertise due to his military experience, service as Seward last commandant and service with the Nashville authority itself,
Rutherford County stepped up as a governmental agency and a community to help Smyrna in the effort.
Finally, Nashville agreed to concede control to the then new Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority with Fitzhugh as top executive.
From a little used, but potentially unlimited facility, Smyrna became a major center of economic activity in our community, centered largely as would be expected on aviation.
A World War II flying hero and a great gentleman, Fitzhugh’s role in that major development cannot be understated.
Without his participation, the effort likely would never have been considered. Without his tireless promotion and efforts, it might not have been successful.
Not unlike Nashville’s airport, the Smyrna airport has been reinvented with a striking and shining authority headquarters, new businesses and lots of activity, even in these less than welcome economic times.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Login and voice your opinion!
|
Digg
Facebook
MySpace
Yahoo!