The Columbia Marion County Airport Board and MDR Construction, Inc. were honored to host the Ambassadors group at the airport on March 25 with a great crowd in attendance.
The Ambassadors group brings together faith, education, business, government and law enforcement leaders to improve the community. The organization works for racial reconciliation and community development.
Attendees had the chance to learn more about the group from its founder, Mickey Webb. Peter Swann, a pilot and missionary to Sudan, shared his experiences and mission work. Jeff Dungan and Tom Porter also talked about the airport’s purpose, the people behind it and some of the projects underway.
They discussed how the airport supports economic development in the community, along with the many other benefits it provides. The men also shared a little about the businesses at the airport, including aircraft maintenance and flight instruction, as well as shared information on the pilots at the airport and their level of flight activities.
The group recognized Jim Cagle who recently retired after 36 years of flying for American Airlines. Jim is a second-generation airline pilot as his dad enjoyed a successful aviation career as well. In addition to his commercial flying, Cagle served our country as a fighter pilot with the Louisiana Air National Guard. During this time, he was able to fly many aircraft, including the F-4 and F-15. Cagle did his first solo flight at the Columbia airport on his 16th birthday. He shared a great story about one of his final American Airlines flights before retiring. He realized the flight path would take him over the Columbia airport, and as he passed overhead at 41,000 feet, he turned on all the lights of the Boeing 787-8 as a tribute to where his journey began.
The Ambassadors also heard from Keena (KJ) Stepney. Stepney is on the other end of the timeline from Cagle. Stepney is now 19 and enrolled in the aviation program at Pearl River Community College located at Stennis International Airport in Bay Saint Louis. He soloed at the Columbia airport at age 17 and now holds his private pilot’s license.
Stepney plans to make a career in aviation. He acknowledged that Cagle had given him his first plane ride and spoke about the support that the other pilots and mechanics had given him at the airport. A neat story is that he and another young pilot, Ayden Buckley, commute to college (weather permitting) in a Cessna 150 from Columbia to Stennis International every day. Good luck to Stepney and Buckley as they continue their journey in aviation!
The meeting concluded with Jeff Dungan (Dungan Engineering) explaining the most recent improvements at the airport and its plans for the next few years. Jeanne Ballard and Ken and Jocelyn Tynes provided the catering. The food was delicious and enjoyed by all. Porter Law Firm sponsored the catering.
