Association To Honor Perdue With American Spirit Award
Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue (R-GA) will be featured as a
keynote speaker for the Opening General Session at NBAA's 63rd
Annual Meeting & Convention (NBAA2010) in Atlanta, GA, and will
be recognized with the 2010 American Spirit Award.
"Governor Perdue has two great passions - aviation and the state
of Georgia - and has spent many years tirelessly supporting and
nurturing the development of both," NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen
said Monday. "NBAA is proud to include him among the speakers at
our Convention's Opening General Session, and also to honor him
with the American Spirit Award for his dedication to all aviation,
including business aviation."
The NBAA American Spirit Award is presented in recognition of an
individual who exemplifies the service, courage and pursuit of
excellence in support of business aviation that characterizes the
men and women who created and advanced the American aviation
community. The Convention's Opening General Session, during which
Gov. Perdue will be presented with this year's award, takes place
on October 19, at the start of NBAA2010, which will be held from
October 19-21 at the Georgia World Congress Center.
In 2007, Gov. Perdue enthusiastically addressed attendees at the
NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention, also in Atlanta, welcoming
the crowd to "the real state of aviation," and proudly detailed
Georgia's long list of aviation superlatives, including the state's
role as home to the eighth-largest general aviation industry in the
nation, with many thousands of people employed at more than 500
aerospace and aviation companies. That year, Governor Perdue also
joined NBAA in celebrating the anniversary of an American aviation
milestone - the 100th anniversary of the state's historic first
flight by E. Patrick Epps, in 1907.
Governor Perdue (Right) With Unidentified Flight
Instructor After A Checkride
In 2009, Governor Perdue issued a proclamation recognizing the
essential role general aviation plays for the state and its
businesses. The proclamation noted that in Georgia, "a great many
businesses and communities depend upon general aviation aircraft
and small aircraft of all types for access to medical treatment,
mobility, economic opportunity, disaster relief and a wide range of
critical resources."
Bolen praised Governor Perdue's proclamation, saying: "We thank
him for sending this welcome message about the importance of jobs,
business productivity, and access to small airports and
humanitarian initiatives that our industry supports."
Past honorees of the NBAA American Spirit Award have included
such aviation notables and pioneers as John and Martha King,
founders of the King Schools, Inc., and Rep. John Mica
(R-7-FL).