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Photos courtesy of Mitchell Mordas.
By Editor Becky Watts
WILLIAMSON - Ron Alexander will be remembered for his love of flying, his kindness and encouragement for young aviators, and events for our community that honored veterans. Ron died in a plane crash at Peach State Airport in Williamson on November 17, 2016. This loss will be felt by many in our community, but especially by those in the aviation community.
Ron’s love of flying began at the age of 14. He had earned his pilot’s license by age 17 and joined the United States Air Force after college. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Air Medals for his service in Vietnam that included missions for Special Forces units and the Marine Corps. (Click on the link at the end of the article to read Ron’s story in its entirety.)
He continued flying when he came back home too. He was a pilot of Delta Airlines until his retirement, and the Aero News Network told how Ron was inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame in 2013. Ron is well known for the Peach State Airport and Candler Field Museum here in Pike County. And who could forget the great food at Barnstormer’s Grill?!
Ron has impacted young lives with the Civil Air Patrol program and the Candler Field Flying Club. The basics of flying as well as safety are paramount in these programs.
Our community was impacted by the airport as well as the many events that have been held there over the years. Building a replica of Candler Field before it became the bustling international airport of today was a huge undertaking that is still becoming a reality today as each building comes to life in Williamson.
From Aviation Career Day to Veterans Day, there are events going on at Peach State Airport on a regular basis. World War II Veterans were honored this year at the 10th Annual Veterans Day event just this month. And scenes from the movie Sully were filmed at airport in 2015. Director Clint Eastwood spent a day at the airport during filming.
Bonnie Mordas pointed out that the aviation community has lost several outstanding men in the past six months: Phillip LaBerge, Mac McGaughey, Ron Alexander, and Larry Enlow, the FAA official from Orlando, Florida, who also died in this crash.
Bonnie shared a memory from last Thanksgiving with me. She and her husband Mitch had flown in for a day of flying with friends. Many were there that day including Phil and Lynda LaBerge, Ron Alexander and several others. “Ask anyone that was there that day .... We all walked away feeling renewed ... Humbled ... One of those days that you just never forget ... I never thought we'd lose both of them: Philip LaBerge and Ron Alexander .... Both had a passion for flying always giving back to the community always giving back to the younger generation.”
Giving back to the younger generation and his dream to bring history to life at the Candler Field Museum are just two ways that Ron Alexander will be remembered. A celebration of Ron’s life will be held at a later time at Candler Field in Williamson.
You can read the article about the crash at pikecountytimes.com/secondary/breakingnewsplanecrash11.17.16.html.
Ron’s story can be read in its entirety at m.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/kitspages/ron_alexander.php.
You can read more about the Peach State Airport at www.peachstateaero.com/museum/. You can make a donation in Ron's memory through this link as well.
Phillip LaBerge and Ron Alexander
