After 26 Years, Says "The Timing Is Right"

After 26 years of continuous service on the EAA Board of Directors, Louie Andrew announced his retirement on August 3, 2012. For the past year Andrew served as Chairman of the Board. “I had planned to retire this year and after a great AirVenture Oshkosh, and with EAA having a terrific president and CEO Rod Hightower in place, the timing is right,” Andrew said. “It’s now time for me to allow the many other talented Directors we have on the Board to take their turns.”

“It has been a great honor for me to serve as a Director of EAA,” he added. “Without the vision of Paul Poberezny and Tom Poberezny, and the hard work of everyone at EAA, we may not have private flying in the future. I am confident that EAA is now in the right place to ensure the future of all of private aviation.”

Andrew is an attorney who lives and practices in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He has been an active pilot since age 14 and was first elected to the EAA Board in 1986. Andrew initially became involved with EAA at the Fond du Lac aerobatic championships that were held at that airport immediately following AirVenture for many years. “Louie has been an immense help to me,” Hightower said. “Louie is close by in Fond du Lac so we met regularly during the leadership transition, and his advice and direction based on the experience he gained from decades on the Board has been invaluable.”

During his last 10 years on the Board, Andrew was the Chair of the Executive Committee of EAA, Vice President of EAA, and over the past year he was Chairman of the Board of Directors of EAA. He has also served as Treasurer of the International Aerobatic Club (IAC), a division of EAA, and had been a member of the IAC board. “Louie’s long experience on the EAA Board was essential during the leadership transition,” said Dan Schwinn, Chair of the EAA Governance Committee of the Board. “Louie spent countless hours on the search for a new president, and then devoted even more time helping to make the leadership change as smooth as possible.”

“I can’t stress enough how convinced I am that we have in Rod Hightower the person who can and will lead EAA to the next level,” Andrew said. “Rod brings the experience, the skill set, and the passion for aviation that assures a bright future for EAA.”

As Chair of the EAA Governance Committee, Schwinn will lead the process of selecting a new Chairman of the Board of Directors. “EAA’s Board is made up of highly successful aviators representing a broad range of EAA’s special interests, general aviation and successful industry executives, with numerous highly qualified candidates to Chair the Board,” Schwinn said. “The EAA Board will conduct a comprehensive and thorough process leading up to the election of a new Chairman at the fall Directors meeting in November.” 

FMI: www.eaa.org