Bill Hanf founded Green Mountain Avionics in Middlebury, Vermont, in 2011. The business started with just one employee and has grown exponentially. It continues to thrive, encompassing two maintenance hangars as well as two company airplanes: a 1964 Beech S35 Bonanza equipped as an avionics demonstrator, and a 1971 Cessna 150L used as an avionics demonstrator as well as a primary trainer for employees to pursue a pilot license.

Hanf began his avionics career in 1990 with the United States Marine Corps, where he worked on CH-46 helicopters and developed his technical ability and leadership skills. He served proudly for six years and received an honorable discharge.

As a civilian, he worked for Cessna Citation Service Centers in California and New York, where he became the avionics supervisor. After 10 years with Cessna, he moved back to his home state of Vermont and took a position as the avionics manager for a Part 145 certified repair station with a Part 135 charter operation, where he worked until he opened his own avionics shop.

Hanf has been an active member of the AEA since prior to founding Green Mountain Avionics and is currently in his ninth year serving on the board of directors and in his third and final year as chairman with prior service as vice chairman and work on various committees.

Bruce Grammon joined Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics in 1990. Throughout his 34 years with the company, he has served customers in many roles, including avionics lab technician, lab manager, and, in his most recent role, senior field service engineer.

Grammon attended his first AEA International Convention & Trade Show in Dallas, Texas, in 1993. Since that time, he has attended a multitude of AEA events around the globe. Grammon's commitment to the AEA is reflected in his deep desire to support and serve his fellow members and aviators.

He began his aviation career after graduating from Wichita Technical Institute, where he received an associate degree in electronics maintenance and repair technology. His technical expertise spans hundreds of product types, from weather radars to airspeed indicators. A familiar face among Mid-Continent customers, Grammon is often found in educational videos, helping the aviation community troubleshoot commonly asked questions.

“I love learning, helping others, and I really love the people I work with,” he said. “Our customers and my co-workers have become like my family. When I joined Mid-Continent, I had the opportunity to work for John Winter and Bill Barnes. They were my mentors and, at such an early stage in my career, I was able to tap into a wealth of knowledge. They are a big part of the reason I have stayed in the industry for so long.”

Among other accomplishments, Grammon has held repairman and National Center for Aerospace and Transportation Technologies certificates and completed a variety of product training courses. He served on the electronics board for WTI for 25 years.

Dewey Conroy learned to fly when he was 19 and went to work as a fueler and cleaner of customer aircraft for a Commander dealer in Hillsboro, Oregon, in 1979, where he worked his way to the parts department.

In 1984, Conroy accepted an offer from American Avionics in Seattle to do inventory control. Shortly after, he was asked to work in avionics sales. By 1989, he was promoted to avionics sales manager.

In 1991, Rick Garcia of Gulf Coast Avionics asked Conroy to be a partner in starting a West Coast avionics shop. On June 1, 1991, Pacific Coast Avionics opened its doors in Auburn, Washington, with one employee: Conroy.

By 1997, Pacific Coast Avionics needed to expand and moved to its current location at the Aurora State Airport. Since then, the company has grown from four employees and 6,500 square feet to 24 employees (14 installers) and over 18,000 square feet.

With Conroy serving as vice president and chief operating officer, Pacific Coast Avionics has been awarded the Garmin Platinum Elite Dealer Award numerous times and is recognized as one of the best shops on the West Coast.

James Temple started working in the business and general aviation industry when he was just 13 years old. He worked alongside his father, Marshall Temple, who founded Temple Electronics in 1973.

Temple began working during his summer school break in 1976. When he turned 16, he began building install lash-ups (marking wires and populating connectors). Two years later, at age 18, he began engineering and performing simple installations from start to finish. In his early 20s, Temple attended almost all the Honeywell, BendixKing and Universal Avionics training classes to receive as much education as he could. He also began bench working nav/comms and autopilots, flight line AP systems, and all avionics systems. By the late 1980s, he was running Temple Electronics with help from his father’s guiding hand.

In 1993, Marshall Temple retired, and James Temple has carried on his father’s legacy by continuing to grow the business and always looking ahead to new technologies that will help the company advance in the future. Temple Electronics has been an active member of the AEA since the company opened in 1973, and it sponsors the Marshall Temple scholarship through the AEA Educational Foundation.

Kevin Miesbach, a 38-year employee of Duncan Aviation, is currently the components/OEM business development manager. In this position, he drives Duncan Aviation's components repair services toward new business opportunities with OEMs, government entities and new product capabilities.

Miesbach always had an interest in aviation and attended Southeast Community College in Lincoln, Nebraska, to obtain an associate degree in electronic engineering technology. Upon graduation in 1982, Miesbach began his career as an avionics technician with Lincoln Avionics. At the time, Lincoln Avionics was partly owned by Duncan Aviation and provided avionics support to general aviation aircraft.

In 1985, when Lincoln Avionics was liquidated, the corporation was transitioned into Duncan Aviation. Miesbach transferred to Duncan Aviation installing new avionics systems on business aircraft such as Citations and Learjets.

Miesbach later joined the components repair team working avionics line and bench maintenance on corporate jets and turbo props repairing HF and FMS systems, VHF navigation and communication equipment of all makes and models. In 1993, he was promoted to nav/comm team leader, and after seven years took over as avionics shop supervisor. He spent 15 years moving from the supervisor role to avionics/instrument shop manager. During this time, Duncan Aviation's avionics/instrument shop developed and gained a long list of new capabilities that includes FMS, TAWS, digital CVRs, NAT communications and audio equipment, newer weather radars, and gyros. During this time, Miesbach also spent time recruiting qualified technicians to the Duncan Aviation team. 

Miesbach's first introduction to the AEA was at a regional meeting in Lincoln, Nebraska, in the early 1980s. It was an eye opener for a young technician soon realizing the value the AEA brings to the industry. Since then, he has been a regular attendee at AEA events and has coordinated and supported training sessions at the AEA Conventions and Connect Conferences with his team.

Todd Winter is the president and CEO of Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics. He also is CEO of True Blue Power, the first company in the world to develop and TSO a safe, lithium-ion main-ship battery.

"I literally was born into aviation," Winter said. "My father, John, worked at Aircraft Radio Corp. in Boonton, New Jersey. He was involved in developing and refining some of the first general aviation autopilot systems. Several years after our family moved to Texas, I attended my first AEA meeting in San Antonio in 1968. The rest is history, and I've been attending AEA meetings throughout the world ever since. AEA members truly are part of my family. I strive to support my friends and help serve their customers well."

Winter is an FAA-certified private pilot, a past board member and current member of the Aircraft Electronics Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, National Business Aviation Association, Helicopter Association International, Wichita Aero Club, the Experimental Aircraft Association, World Presidents' Organization, and the Condor Squadron.

Founded in 1964, Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics is an FAA/EASA authorized repair station and AS9100D-certified manufacturing facility. The company specializes in the manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul of aircraft instruments and avionics.

Efrain Lopez is the founder and owner of Georgetown Instrument Services Inc. and the owner of Castleberry Instruments & Avionics.

His passion for aviation, developing relationships, and his relentless focus on the customer has generated a long track record of growing businesses and delivering financial results. He loves a good conversation and discovered early on that the foundation of his accomplishments are his relationships.

Prior to launching his own repair station, Lopez began his career at Castleberry about 35 years ago working on rotors, progressed to instrumentation, and did the leap to the business side in customer service and eventually sales and marketing. He also held the role of general manager with the JDC Company before starting Georgetown Instrument Services in 2002.

Lopez currently serves on the Airport Advisory Board of Taylor, Texas, and Jonah Community Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to the restoration of a historic school building.

With more than 36 years of experience in the general aviation industry, Vail's interest in aviation started in his early 20s, when several friends earned their private pilot's license. During that time, he became good friends with an airplane and helicopter pilot who purchased a small avionics shop in Bloomington, Illinois.

Prior to his life in aviation, Vail worked for six years in restaurant management. He left the profession and moved to Bloomington in 1980 to manage Bloomington Avionics. Then in January 2012, Vail moved to Flightstar in Savoy, Illinois. 

Founded in 1978, Flightstar is an aviation service organization located at the University of Illinois-Willard Airport. With more than 100,000 square feet of office and hangar space, the company offers a wide range of services, including a full-service FBO, airline and MRO; avionics sales with installation and repair; and worldwide executive jet charter with full aircraft management services. 

An active member in the AEA, Vail served on the association's Strategic Planning Committee before being elected to the board of directors in 2005. In addition, he served as chairman of the Government Affairs and Regulatory Committee, and he spearheaded the AEA's Ambassador Program to promote better communications between member companies and the FAA's Flight Standards District Offices.

A former vice chairman of the AEA board of directors, Vail was elected chairman in 2010 and served in that role until 2013. An industry veteran, Vail has served on a number of advisory boards for various manufacturers, and he is a licensed single-engine pilot with instrument endorsement. 

In 1997, Jeanne Rau-Flattery became the majority owner and current CEO of Millennium International, an FAA/EASA repair station specializing in the repair and support of next generation and legacy avionics. 

In March 1993, she also became the current president of Aero Express Inc., which specializes in buying, selling, renting, leasing or trading aviation ramp and bench test equipment. She also is part owner/founder of Express Calibration Services, which was formed in 2008 and specializes in the repair and calibration of aviation test equipment. All three companies are AEA members. 

Millennium International became an AEA member in 1997, and Rau-Flattery was elected to serve on the AEA board of directors for nine years and served as treasurer for six years. She also chaired the AEA Finance Committee and served on the AEA's Strategic Planning Committee and Industry Outlook Committee.

Robert Duncan, a nationally recognized aviator, businessman, art collector and civic leader, is the recipient of the 2016 AEA Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the AEA's board of directors. 

His father founded Duncan Aviation in 1956, and Robert began helping out while still a student. Only three years after graduating from Northwestern University in 1965, and at age 26, Robert was named president of the company. Duncan Aviation is an aircraft service provider supporting the aviation needs of government and business operators and other service providers. 

He was instrumental in taking Duncan Aviation from a small, sales-focused business to an organization offering a diverse array of services in maintenance, modifications, avionics, accessories and instrumental repairs. 

Robert turned over day-to-day management of the company to his son, D. Todd Duncan, in 2007, and serves on its board as chairman emeritus. Robert and his wife, Karen, are passionate about aviation and flight. 

Robert's awards include the Living Legends of Aviation Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur Award in 2012, the Master Pilot Award in 2009, and National Business Aviation Association's John P. "Jack" Doswell Award in 2002. Robert has been named to the Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame and the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame. 

Duncan Aviation has AEA memberships at 18 different locations, and the facility in Lincoln, Nebraska, has been an AEA member since 1970.

The AEA member of the year honors an individual from an AEA member repair station and is voted on by their peers.

Joe Braddock has been involved in avionics his entire life after being born at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base where his father was stationed and specialized in avionics. Braddock's father combined his Air Force avionics training and civilian experience to found Southeast Aerospace with Joe, Joe's mother and his older brother. 

As the business grew and prospered, along with his avionics proficiency, Braddock became the face of the company, a role he has thoroughly enjoyed and embraced. Under his leadership, Southeast Aerospace has been an active AEA member for many years. Alongside his brother, Braddock co-created the widely used and recognized Southeast Aerospace website, which was one of the first avionics sites in the 1990s to provide detailed avionics information and specifications. As current vice president, Braddock has continued to manage the sales and marketing department from beginning to present, with the company growing to more than 100 employees. 

Gary Kelley was presented with the 2015 AEA Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the AEA's board of directors. Kelley was recognized for his countless hours of volunteerism for the association, including his service as a board member and his leadership on the AEA's Future Studies Report, a strategic plan developed in the mid-1990s.

Kelley retired from Garmin International in December 2011 as vice president of marketing, where he led Garmin's aviation, marine, outdoor fitness and automotive divisions. He joined Garmin in 1992 as director of marketing, during which time he oversaw the development of Garmin's global marketing, sales, support and advertising strategies in the early days of the company. He also served as director of Garmin Europe from 1993 to 2004.

Under his executive leadership, Garmin was named the AEA Associate Member of the Year on three occasions: 1994; 2000; and 2011.

Michael J. Kus is the founder and director of Avionics 2000 Pty. Ltd., based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Since its conception in 1988, the company has grown and diversified to its present-day status as a full-service provider, including avionics, aircraft operation and airframe engine. This expansion has elevated Avionics 2000 to what is now, arguably, the largest privately-owned avionics equipment retailer and maintenance provider for general aviation aircraft in Australia. Kus is proud to have pioneered his company as the first in Australia to fit and certify TCAS in a business aviation environment (September 1999), and the first to obtain aircraft certification for primary means oceanic navigation using GPS (November 1999).

Prior to starting Avionics 2000, Kus served six years with the Victoria Police Force, Police Air Wing. He became a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer (LAME) in 1986 while serving with the police and is credited for orchestrating the avionics plan for its air ambulance service in 1985. His passion for aviation was launched in 1976, when he joined the Royal Australian Navy. He received avionics technician apprenticeship training with the Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm and trained as an electrical fitter. While concurrently serving his country, Kus received honors in 1982 from the Department of Technical and Further Education, NSW, for completion of its electronics and communications course.

Avionics 2000 has been a member of the AEA since December 1994. Kus is currently serving his third term on the AEA's board of directors, representing the Asia-Pacific region.

Kus has a strong bond with the AEA and its members and is dedicated to the technological and regulatory progression of this industry that he is so passionate about. When he's not immersed in his work, Kus enjoys spending time in Tasmania with his wife, Kimberly, and 6-year-old twins, Luca and Jacqueline. 

Kent McIntyre of Bevan-Rabell Inc. was first introduced to the world of aviation by often flying with his uncle, a World War II pilot, in the 1970s. He began taking flight lessons in the summer of 1976, and it wasn't long until he was working and pumping gas at the airport in Wellington, Kan. 

McIntyre attended Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan., and later earned a bachelor's degree in business at Newman University in Wichita, Kan., in 1983.

He worked for Mike Kelley Aircraft, now Air Plains Services, for several years. In 1989, he began working for Bevan-Rabell as the shop manager with virtually no avionics experience except flying. He served as an avionics and sales manager until 2001, and he then bought the business from Bob Patterson. 

An AEA member since September 1986, Bevan-Rabell is an FAA-certified repair station located at the Wichita Mid-Continent Airport.

McIntyre has been actively involved with the AEA for a number of years, previously serving as a member of the AEA board of directors.

Dan Derby was presented with the 2013 Aircraft Electronics Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the AEA's board of directors, during the Opening Ceremonies of the 56th annual AEA International Convention & Trade Show on Tuesday, March 26, at the MGM Grand Hotel & Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev.

Derby was recognized by the AEA board for his countless hours of volunteerism for the association, including his service as a member of the AEA board of directors, eventually becoming vice chair of the board; serving as a board member of the AEA Educational Foundation and promoting and funding the scholarship program; and serving as chair of the AEA Strategic Planning Committee. He also was named the 2001 AEA Member of the Year.

Derby started working for Atlantic Aero in Greensboro, N.C., on July 5, 1976, beginning a remarkable 32-year aviation career with loyal service to Atlantic Aero in a variety of roles. For the first six years of his career, Derby troubleshot, diagnosed, repaired and installed avionics systems for many customers and aircraft owners.

In August 1982, he was promoted to avionics manager.

In January 1987, Derby was promoted again, this time to vice president of line and avionics. After serving in this role for 10 years, Derby became vice president of service marketing in January 1997, where he was responsible for maintaining and expanding the company's share of the technical services market.

Two years later in January 1999, he was named senior vice president of operations, where he was responsible for the management of the entire organization. In addition, he became a minority shareholder and was a member of the Atlantic Aero Holdings board of directors.

In August 2002, Derby became executive vice president and accountable manager for the repair station.

After his retirement in 2008, the AEA dedicated the Dan Derby Center for Professional Development on Sept. 24, 2008, at its new international headquarters in Lee's Summit, Mo. Each year, hundreds of AEA members and industry professionals meet in the Derby Center to conduct technical training, industry events and professional development forums at this state-of-the-art facility.

"Dan Derby is one of those rare individuals who puts the good of an organization before himself," said Paula Derks, AEA president. "Dan was a true believer in promoting careers in the aviation maintenance industry to youth, and his work on behalf of the AEA and its Educational Foundation will always be appreciated."

Since Dan's retirement, the Derby's have been able to spend precious time with their family and enjoy traveling around the world. Together, Dan and his wife, Donna, have experienced memorable moments with trips to Germany, France, Denmark, Switzerland, China and numerous sites in the U.S. The Derby's are active members of the Sheets Memorial Baptist Church and enjoy their new home on the lake.

Jim Joubert was born in 1954, at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Alameda, Calif. He literally was born into aviation, as his father, Jim Sr., had a career in aviation in the Navy, and later as an avionics inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration. Joubert's father taught him to fly at a very early age, and he first soloed at the age of 16. He has many fond memories of his family's vacations and outings in the family C-172.

Joubert officially began his aviation career in 1972, at the age of 18. He was offered a job as an apprentice instrument technician at Pan Western Instruments in Long Beach, Calif. Joubert quickly learned the many facets of the instrument business, and in 1974, the company relocated to Van Nuys, Calif., as part of the full-service FBO/Cessna dealer, Golden West Skyways, where he managed the instrument shop.

In 1975, Joubert married his high school sweetheart, Sylvia, and together they opened their first business in 1976, called J&S Aircraft Instruments. As J&S Aircraft Instruments, Joubert bought and sold aircraft instruments and did freelance instrument repair for other shops in the Southern California area. In March 1982, Joubert founded Pacific Southwest Instruments. Now, 30 years later, PSI has grown into a worldwide, well-recognized provider of aircraft instruments and repair services. He currently serves as president and CEO at PSI.

Joubert has been active in the AEA for many years, and he has served as a board member for the last six years. He was re-elected this year to serve another term. He also serves on the AEA Finance Committee and the AEA Government & Industry Affairs Committee. PSI is a regular participant and sponsor at AEA meetings and events.

Paul Ryan was presented with the 2012 AEA Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the Aircraft Electronics Association's board of directors, during the Official Opening of the 55th annual AEA International Convention & Trade Show on April 4 at the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center in Washington, D.C. 

In 1957, he established Dytronics Co. Inc., and a number of products were designed and sold to companies engaged in the new aerospace efforts. By making null adjustments to simultaneously solve a couple of simple electrical equations, he realized that precise phase angles could be synthesized with remarkable precision. The resulting primary phase angle standard was quickly recognized, accepted and adopted by the metrology laboratories of all branches of the military, NATO nations and major aerospace contractors.

In addition, while piloting a single-engine airplane traveling to serve customer needs, Ryan had a shocking experience with the encounter of a thunderstorm. With a strong desire to help pilots avoid the dangers of thunderstorms, he worked on a solution. The resulting product was the Ryan Stormscope. The highly successful product generated a 360-degree map around the aircraft for pilot viewing of lightning activity. It was sold to the 3M Co. in 1981. Currently, it is owned and marketed by L-3 Avionics Systems, and more than 50,000 Stormscope units are flying today.

Following the sale of Stormscope, Ryan founded Ryan International Corp., a long-time member of the AEA. Under his direction, Ryan International developed world-class traffic advisory system products, triumphing over the challenges with uncommon creativity. In 2005, Ryan International Corp. merged with Avidyne Inc. The combined companies brought together avionics visionaries and extended Avidyne's capabilities and market reach.

Ryan attended Ohio State University, earned a degree in electrical engineering and continued advanced studies in physics. Throughout the years, Ryan has been recognized with a number of awards, including the 2010 Benjamin G. Lamme Medalist award, presented by the college of engineering at Ohio State University, the highest engineering award for meritorious achievement in advancing engineering.

Gunter Hemmel becomes the first European named AEA Member of the Year. An active member of the AEA, his company, Avionik Straubing, has been a long-time AEA member, and he serves on the AEA Europe Technical Advisory Committee.

Since 1970, Hemmel has been engaged in aircraft electronics. He founded his first company in Munich, called IFL, and received his license as certifying staff. In 1977, he founded his own avionics shop, Avionik Straubing.

The company is located at the Straubing-Wallmuhle airfield in Atting. He began with three employees, continuing with the establishment of the GmbH in 1986. The company is led by Hemmel and his wife, Iris, whom he married in 1978.

Together, they have built the company to become one of the largest avionics companies in Europe with international clients. The company also has established a reputation in the military sector. Helicopters of the German army are flying with products which he develops.

Hemmel is well known throughout the AEA European region, and he attends the AEA Europe Regional Meeting every year, as well as the AEA International Convention & Trade Show in the United States. Today, the staff of Avionik Straubing has reached 50 employees.

Ron Hall was presented with the 2011 AEA Lifetime Achievement Award during the Opening Session of the 54th annual AEA Convention & Trade Show on March 23 at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nev.

Hall grew up in the small town of Winfield, Kan., about 45 miles southeast of Wichita. It was there that Hall was introduced to the basics of electricity and electronics.

As a young teenager, Hall and several of his friends connected with a local ham radio group. They participated in field days, antenna raisings and studied for their general licenses. They also become cadets in the Civil Air Patrol.

Hall experienced his first flight at age 16, when the Air Force flew several cadets in an old, noisy cargo aircraft from Wichita to Salina, Kan., for a two-week summer camp.

After graduating from high school, Hall attended the local Junior College, and later, he began working toward an engineering degree at Wichita State University.

In January 1962, Hall enlisted in the United States Air Force. After basic training, Hall was assigned to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss. It was there that his fundamental electronics knowledge was upgraded to aircraft navigation repair.

Later in 1962, Hall was transferred to Lincoln, Neb., and the 307th A&E squadron. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, Lincoln had two B-47 squadrons, and his group of new trainees became top notch aircraft radio repairmen.

Following his release, Hall returned to Wichita and went to work for LearJet, where he met Bill Lear. Soon, Hall transferred to a new LearJet maintenance facility opening in Lincoln with a new avionics shop.

In 1968, American LearJet changed ownership and became what is known today as Duncan Aviation.

Hall’s career flourished from 1968 until his retirement in 2007 at Duncan Aviation.  He served stints as shop manager, installation shop manager and engineering supervisor, avionics sales and APU sales director.

Hall attended his first AEA convention in Kansas City in 1970, where he met AEA’s founder, Chuck Peacock. Attending the AEA convention became an annual event for Hall, and he forged new relationships with several AEA members throughout his career.

Duncan Aviation hosted several AEA Regional meetings, and Hall served on the AEA board of directors for 20 years. In 1985, he was named the recipient of the AEA Member of the Year Award.

Hall and his wife of 44 years, Phyllis, have three children: Allen, Douglas and Gretchen; along with nine grandchildren.

After 41 years in the aviation business, Hall retired four years ago and travels the world with his bride. Together, they have visited more than 30 countries.

Rick Ochs founded and manages Spirit Avionics Ltd., an FAA-certified avionics repair station in Columbus, Ohio.

Ochs previously had an extensive career in the United States Navy and private avionics industry. With more than 25 years experience, Ochs has become a well-known representative and leader within the avionics community.

He is dedicated to establishing avionics technicians’ national certification and academic accreditation standards to enhance professional development.

Ochs presently serves on the AEA board of directors and is a member of the AEA Program and Member Services Committee. He also is involved in other industry organizations, such as NBAA, NCATT, EAA and Youth Aviation Adventure. He serves on several advisory boards and has received many FAA and FCC certifications and awards. Ochs is passionate about youth aviation careers and has invested a large amount of time and energy highlighting the positive potential of aviation careers.

The Aircraft Electronics Association’s board of directors selected Dan Walker, past director of domestic marketing for King Radio Corp., as the AEA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient for 2010.

Walker will be honored during the official opening ceremonies Thursday, April 8, at the 53rd annual AEA International Convention & Trade Show in Orlando, Fla.

Walker’s interest in the field of aviation electronics began when he joined the Air Force and was sent to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, for Officer Candidate School. At school, he worked on navigator/electronic counter measures, spending more than four years in both airborne and ground work.

Walker’s last duty area was at the Olathe Naval Air Station in Olathe, Kan. By then, he had earned his pilot ratings at flying clubs across the country, and in the mid-1960s, Wilson’s Flying Service in Kansas City hired him. One day, Walker was flying a charter passenger who would change the course of his life. “I flew a gentleman named Wayne Ross who had an ad agency and was doing work for King Radio Corp.,” Walker said. “I mentioned that I was about to get out of the Air Force and wanted to do something with electronics — and that’s when he told me about his advertising client.” A lunch interview soon followed with Glenn Bergmann, vice president of marketing for King Radio, and Bud Glover, well-known vice president of sales for King Radio. Walker was hired as Southeast regional sales manager — one of three regional managers — and was moved to Atlanta in the late 1960s.

From Atlanta, he transferred to Memphis in 1970, followed by Dallas in 1976. Later, Walker relocated to King Radio’s headquarters offices in Olathe to set up a dealer-direct program. Like others who worked for King Radio during this time, Walker recalls the company’s extraordinary leadership. “Bob Cox put together an infrastructure to support everything we did,” Walker said. “If one department would say they couldn’t do something, Bob would
ask, ‘Why not?’ We had a smooth operation.”

Throughout the AEA membership, Walker is credited with his style of leadership in working with and supporting the dealer network. In a controversial move, King Radio had decided to no longer work through wholesalers, but to work directly with the dealers. The plan was to have 10 regional sales people to staff five regions: one manager on the road and his paired counterpart at headquarters. “I’m proud of the people who got their aviation start in this program,” Walker said. “They have gone on to have extremely successful careers in the industry.”

When asked about working for King Radio founder Ed King, Walker said, “He was just an extremely innovative man. He is the type of person who, when you talked to him, you had to be careful what you said because he was always thinking way ahead of you. He is a tremendous engineer and knew what people wanted when it comes to flying — and he was smart enough to hire Bob Cox to run the company. “(King’s) key to success was timing, innovation and hiring the right people.”

Walker left King in 1991, with the title of director of domestic marketing. He spent the next four years at Goodrich. “When Goodrich faded out of the general aviation repair business, I faded out, too,” Walker said.

Today, Walker and his wife, Dyana, live in Kerrville, Texas, and stay busy with landscaping, photography and traveling. “The only part of my life that is still involved in aviation is when I look up and see the Mooney’s flying into Kerrville,” Walker said.