Austin Straubel International Airport was originally known as
the Brown County Airport. The area had outgrown Blesch Field, located on the
corner of Ashland and Lombardi Avenues, and in 1944 the county purchased land
for the new airport. In March of 1946 the Brown County Board of Supervisors
signed a resolution renaming the airport Austin Straubel Field to honor the
courage, self sacrifice and devotion to duty demonstrated by Lieutenant Colonel
Austin Straubel. Straubel grew up in Green Bay and in 1942 became the first
aviator from Brown County to lose his life in World War II. His remains were
brought home and he is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Allouez.
Recently it has been suggested that it would be good for business
in Green Bay to change the name of the airport. The thought is that the area
would be better served to have Green Bay in the official title of the facility.
Even though Austin Straubel will still be referenced in the name, it is not
apparent to me that this change is necessary. There are cities around the
country that do not fear that their economic growth will be impaired if the
name of their city is not emblazoned on the airport.
One example is McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, NV.
This airport is named after a United States Senator who served from 1932 until
his death in 1954. One of his accomplishments was authoring the Civil
Aeronautics Act in 1938. Unfortunately, he also became an ally of Senator Joseph
McCarthy and participated in some misguided anti-communist activities after the
Second World War. None of this hampers the economic activity that Las Vegas is
known for. Millions of starry-eyed tourists check their boarding passes for the
three letters, LAS, and happily land at McCarran International.
Logan International Airport welcomes history buffs and Red Sox
fans coming to enjoy all that Boston, MA has to offer. Officially titled
General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport, it is named after a
Massachusetts judge and political statesman. Even though he was not a pilot, he
was recognized for the work that he did to help veterans after World War I.
This was one of the reasons the airport was named for him in 1956.
Another example is the airport serving Milwaukee, WI. The
Harley Davidson Museum and Santiago Calatrava’s brise soleil at the Milwaukee
Art Museum entice many visitors to land at General Mitchell International
Airport. Raised in Milwaukee, Billy Mitchell is often referred to as the father
of the United States Air Force. One of the first to understand the importance of
air power in fighting our country’s wars, he campaigned tirelessly on its
behalf in the years between the First and Second World Wars. On March 17, 1941,
Milwaukee County Airport was renamed in honor of General Mitchell.
There have been unsuccessful efforts in both Las Vegas and
Boston to have the airport names changed to better reflect the cities they
support, but there have been no recent initiatives to change the name of
General Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee.
Maybe it is true that some people don’t think of Green Bay when
they hear the name Austin Straubel, but if Green Bay and Brown County continue
to offer products, services, entertainment and an atmosphere experience, they
will come. The name Straubel deserves the same level of respect as McCarran,
Logan, and Mitchell.
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