Wed, Apr 01, 2009
Honored For "Innovation In Aviation Sarcasm"
ANN APRIL 1st "SPECIAL"
EDITION: He's been in print for over 30 years, online for
the past 10, and he's even been to space... and now, Aviation's
Only Ant has received a truly plus-sized honor.
"You're freakin' kidding me."
With that admonition, ANN's very own resident cartoonist Wes
Oleszewski learned that he -- sort of -- was the recipient of the
2008 Collier Award from the National Aeronautic Association, in
recognition of "twice-a-week contributions to elevate the art of
discourse, commentary, and in particular dripping sarcasm in the
field of aviation."
But Oleszewski won't see his own name on the trophy. "The award
is in the name of Klyde Morris," Oleszewski sighed. "I tried to
explain to the NAA that Klyde wasn't an actual ant, just a creation
from the mind's eye of a slightly warped cartoonist with an
admittedly odd fondness for ants, and who's never flown a single
hour in his life that wasn't part of a job or training
requirement... but the NAA wouldn't hear it. Or maybe they ran out
of room on the name plaque."
Oleszewski said he also had some difficulty in being invited to
the awards ceremony. "Finally, they let me have a ticket to the
awards presentation -- I'm the "plus one" to my own creation, my
high school guidance counselor would be so proud -- and I'm
supposed to pick up the award in Klyde's name. I was afraid I'd
have to tell them Klyde would be out of town on a charter run, or
else they wouldn't even let me in the door."
With the honor, the cartoon ant joins the distinguished ranks of
esteemed past Collier winners... including the team behind the B-1
bomber, the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor, and 2005 award winner Eclipse
Aviation.
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