Hide Article Text (OCR)
HEW HOLSTEIN — Two Wisconsin aviator, receivedhundred fnendi. former *t\-draft and well-wisher* surprised Melvin J Thompson oftwo citation* later in tie afternoon Slate Sen Ernest Keppler of Sheboygan, a former pupil. presented thessrwrws —=»New Hols tern Municipal AirportThompsm, i®. a pioneer Inlegislator* Mayor Jerome E Wink and Edgar nuesjen, chairman of New Holstein’s7/ /g* Mklt;SMP*fF-4Hha-----j-—DEPARTMENT 01 NATURAL Resource* representatives from Madison, Fond du Lac County planners and interested county residents will meet at 8 p m Tuesday atfluasi-cenienmil (125th birthday ol the city) presented a citation on behalf of the city, Ue committee and New Holstein residents Thompson, who still retains a slight limp from a broken lag, smiled unse1fconscio«ly as he walked about the airport greeting these who had eeme to honor him One nan asked. “How does n feel to be a celebrity? Thompson pitched himself and replied I hat he hadn’t had time to fed anything yet The surprise was organized by Ted Katie of Kohler, a former student of Thompson, and no» a United Air Ll*e pkx Jack Schncidewtnd, a former student a! Kohler. who h«r»me airport manager at New Holstein alter Thompson left and Sen Keppd clt; Sheboygan Thompson's wife. Alma, kept new* of the testimonial from her husband and told telephone callers who wished io congratulate him that he cxilAnt come to the phone Married in MX, Thompson and his wife, the former Aim* Schramm, have three children and five grandchildren The family member* were also present to help with the hangar parly Kav ts now Mrs Retort Werbecke* of Kohler Joel, 33 a Pan American Airways pilot since IK6. now resides in Sausalna Calif, and Tama is Mrs Ronald Garski c4 Rothschild Although retired since the fall of 1970 after hit leg wa» broker. Thompson keeps ac-|ve with anything I can da *Mh my hands” Major itierests row are gardening, traveling and phofography Thompson, who was the pilot for Wisconsin’s first fly-i« governor. Walter J KohlerVplare. by making modifications in the kit TV project, begun m 1918, took two rear* His first solo flight was from the Thompson farm to the Sheboygan airport He also did some barnstorm mg.“ which Is giving airplane ndes to interested persons who gathered around his aircraft, which he wooM land in a field with the farmer’s permission Thompson also served as an instructor and stum flier at area and stale fair* He had hs own airport in (he early 19Hs and 15* vc leatom Among the memorabilia It (be hangar party was • p*:-lure of Mrs El-ood Gosse nf Sheboygan, one of Thomp-son’s first women flying students in 1942 In 1937. Thompson leased spare Bt the Kohler airport for his planes Ife later eased the entire Kohler airport, which closed in 1969 H* was manager of the New Hol«etn Municipal Airport Itom 1960 lo I'aW He was succeeded by Jack SchnewJewind Thompson did charier work for the Ren* Coal Co of Sheboygan. was pilot for an executive of the Border Co. and one time flew Walter Cronkilc back to New York from Road America near Elkhart Lake Many of Bn (See FLYER. Page 19)[trtuirl mliv Ini
Newspaper Details
Fond Du Lac Reporter
Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, US
Mon, Jun 25, 1973
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Badgerlink
WI, USA 21 Jan 2017
Other Publications Near Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin
Fond Du Lac Commonwealth Reporter
Fond Du Lac Daily Commonwealth
Fond Du Lac Weekly Commonwealth
Fond Du Lac Whig
Fond Du Lac Western Freeman
