City of Beatrice

Highly Engaged Employees

This money remained in the bank until 1940 when the new Airport Corporation was founded. Stock was sold to forty different business and professional men at $25 a share. Supporter Wallace Robertson purchased 160 acres of land connecting to the land already purchased by the corporation in Section 21 of Midland Township. Mr. Robertson held the land un... til the money could be raised by the corporation. A large hanger was built as a WPA project and an instructional pilot training program was started that same year. In 1942, a successful bond was passed by voters. Construction was stopped in 1943 due to World War II but began again in 1945 when newly paved runways were built. The familiar green and white beacon light was added in 1947. Six metal hangers were built in 1949 when a small-based airline started service to Beatrice. The brick terminal building was built in 1950. The building offered a lobby, restrooms, and two offices. Local car dealer, Fred Lenz, donated cars to the airport to be used by passengers and pilots as a courtesy car. By 1954 large twin aircraft were based at the airport and a full-time manager, Don Fitzwater, was hired by the City of Beatrice. Employees became trained weather observers when the airport became part of the teletype aviation weather network in 1956. Frontier Airline was brought to Beatrice thanks to the work of Charles Harman and William Scully. This airline connected to St. Joseph and Kansas City, Missouri, and Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska from 1959 until 1963. A group of aviation enthusiasts, known as the Flying Conestogas, was formed in 1968. This group promoted the airport with various air shows and fundraising with airplane rides. In 2002 due to the insight of the Airport Authority and the support of the City Council plans were in progress to build a new administration building. In September of 2003, the new administration building was completed, and the company moved from the old building into the new one. In October of 2003, the old administration building was torn down. PrintRead More