L/R) EAA President Rod Hightower with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.
OSHKOSH, WIS. – Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker visited EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 26, 2011, to proclaim the week “EAA AirVenture Fly-In Week.”
EAA President Rod Hightower presented Gov. Walker with a plaque expressing the organization’s appreciation. It was the first time that a Wisconsin governor had visited EAA AirVenture in 8 years, since Governor Scott McCallum was governor. Before that, former Gov. Tommy Thompson regularly attended the event.
The plaque reads: “Thank you, Governor Scott Walker, for your support of EAA, AirVenture and the state’s tourism industry.”
“Governor Walker recognizes that AirVenture is a crown jewel,” said Hightower. The event has an annual economic impact of $110 million in the state of Wisconsin.
In an exclusive interview, Gov. Walker told Midwest Flyer Magazine that EAA AirVenture is important to the state of Wisconsin for tourism, jobs and economic development.
“I have personally been a fan of EAA AirVenture for years,” the governor said. “Each year, I would take my son to AirVenture on my 2003 Harley Davidson ‘Road King’ motorcycle to celebrate his birthday. Today, flying in as governor of the state of Wisconsin was very special.”
Wisconsin Secretary of Tourism Stephanie Klett with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.
Accompanying the governor was Wisconsin Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett, who like the governor, has attended EAA AirVenture many times. Sec. Klett first attended AirVenture approximately 20 years as “Miss Wisconsin.” Sec. Klett then went on to host the radio and television program “Discover Wisconsin,” until her appointment as secretary in 2011. Sec. Klett announced in July the addition of 6200 new tourism jobs in Wisconsin in 2011.
Sec. Klett said that the State of Wisconsin is committed to supporting and promoting EAA AirVenture, the largest one-week tourist attraction in the state.
Both the governor and secretary had the opportunity to meet renowned air show performer Bob Hoover, who was honored during EAA AirVenture.
