Here's An Award That ANN Heartily Agrees With
Jack Tunstill of St.
Petersburg, Fla., was honored Saturday night as the 2004 recipient
of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s Joseph P.
Sharples Perpetual Award, given annually to recognize the greatest
selfless commitment to general aviation by a private citizen. He is
the Airport Support Network volunteer for St. Petersburg,
Florida’s Albert Whitted Airport. His ceaseless efforts and
leadership helped rescue the airport from the brink of destruction
and guaranteed the people of St. Petersburg much-needed green space
by keeping the waterfront airport.
“Jack epitomizes the ASN volunteer,” said Boyer.
“He spoke out in strong defense of Albert Whitted in the face
of apparently overwhelming odds. He worked to coordinate the
efforts of to airport support groups – the Airport Advisory
Council and the Albert Whitted Airport Preservation Society. He
helped St. Petersburg residents understand the true consequences of
the anti-airport ballot initiative. In short, he supported his
airport and he never gave up.”
Albert Whitted Airport had been under attack by a group that
wanted to close the airport and turn half of it into a waterfront
park. The proposal did not mention what was to become of the other
half of the airport property, but because backers of the park
proposal included a real estate developer, residents were concerned
that more waterfront high-rises might be in the works.
By serving as the local face of the issue with the media,
community, and elected (right) officials, Tunstill explained to St.
Petersburg residents the value of the airport and the true nature
of the developers’ plans. His efforts paid off handsomely.
Voters overwhelmingly supported keeping Albert Whitted open in
perpetuity, three-to-one in favor, and rejected a companion measure
to turn the land into a park by a similar margin.
“Our nation continues to lose too many airports every
year,” said Boyer. “We desperately need people like
Jack and the rest of our more than 1,600 ASN volunteers to ensure
that our best-in-the-world aviation system remains
strong.”
With more than 400,000 members, representing nearly two thirds
of all pilots in the United States, AOPA is the largest, most
influential aviation association in the world. AOPA has achieved
its prominent position through effective advocacy, enlightened
leadership, technical competence, and hard work. Providing member
services that range from representation at the federal, state, and
local levels to legal services, advice, and other assistance, AOPA
has built a service organization that is without peer to any other
in the aviation community.
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