Jack Grose was honored Thursday
during Opening Ceremonies at the 48th AEA Convention and Trade Show
in Dallas, Texas as the recipient of AEA’s Lifetime
Achievement Award for 2005.
A native of Canada, Grose played a vital role in expanding the
association across the northern border and beyond, as he was the
first individual outside of the United States ever to serve as an
international officer of the AEA.
Grose was born in 1929 on his grandfather’s farm in the
southwest corner of Manitoba. After high school, he graduated from
Ryerson Polytechnic Institute in Toronto with a degree in Radio
Technology.
He worked for Aerial Survey Co. where he was an engineering
assistant on the design of analog high speed air position
indicators for jet fighters. He spent a number of years flying in
B-17s and Lockheed Hudson’s for the survey company and flew
missions all over North, Central and South America.
As the company grew, they soon found it necessary to supply
avionics service for their own equipment and soon extended their
services to commercial customers. Grose was given the job of
avionics department manager. In 1971, aviation took a downturn, the
aerial company was hurting, and Grose and a partner bought the
avionics department—and Navair Limited was born.
From that point, Grose says, they never looked back and Navair
became one of the largest avionics service and sales companies in
Canada. Soon after Navair was incorporated, he met Leo
Bronee—who at the time was on the AEA board of directors
representing Canada. He convinced Grose that being an AEA member
was essential to a healthy avionics business. Navair immediately
joined and for over 30 years, Grose was an active participant in
the Association.
He became a regional director for AEA, and then advanced to
Canada’s Regional Vice President. From there he was elected
Vice President (now called Vice Chairman) and in 1984, was elected
AEA President (now called Chairman). During his tenure as
president, his presence alone commanded respect and admiration from
the industry. The association was at a stage of international
growth, and Grose helped advance that growth. In 1975, he was named
AEA Member of the Year.
During his career, Grose not only volunteered his time and
talents for the AEA, but he also served on the Executive Board of
the Canadian Business Aircraft Association and the advisory boards
of two community colleges. He also served on the board of directors
for IFR Test Systems in Wichita for many years.
Grose retired as president of Navair in 1998, and stayed until
2002 working as a consultant for the company. Looking back over his
career and his achievements, Jack points out two special moments
that stand out.
The first is the day that Navair was incorporated and put his
staff and him on the road to so many wonderful things in the
industry. The second was on April 15, 1984—the day his first
grandchild, Lianne, was born and he was elected AEA president the
very same day. He counts that day as two unforgettable milestones
in his life.