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EAA Inducts Hall Of Fame Class Of 2006

November 2, 2006 — Friday night's gala event honoring 2006 inductees to the EAA Halls of Fame featured a keynote address from Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation and a member of the EAA Board of Directors. Raburn addressed those being honored by relating their thoughts to his own the night he accepted the National Aeronautic Association's Collier Trophy on behalf of every employee who made it possible.

"Right now you're thinking, I don't deserve this," he said. "Don't feel that way. No one sets out to make history; you set out to do what you wanted to do, and you achieved it by getting up every morning and putting one foot in front of the other. So enjoy the night. Revel in it. And let us all recognize those people who got up every morning and did something."

View the video tributes of the 2006 inductees:

Also honored Friday were Fred and Carol Stadler, who were named co-recipients of the 2006 Henry H. Kimberly Spirit of Leadership Award recognizing exceptional volunteer commitment and leadership for EAA in the local area. It was the first time the award was given to two people, but they earned it individually.

EAA President Tom Poberezny noted that Fred flew 916 hours this season in the various airplanes based at Pioneer Airport, including numerous Young Eagle flights. Fred is also EAA's AirVenture NOTAM coordinator and works with FAA officials to create the special document for aviators flying into Oshkosh each year.

Carol coordinates the annual aviation quilt block contest held during AirVenture as well as the children's activity hangar.

In accepting the award, Fred said it was amazing to be honored for doing something that is so much fun. "Volunteering at EAA is really a dream for us," he said. The Stadlers began volunteering in the South Maintenance area, he driving a dump truck and she a tractor.