BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF. – EAA Chairman Emeritus Tom Poberezny was inducted as a “Living Legend of Aviation” on January 18, 2013, during the 10th annual Living Legends of Aviation awards ceremonies in Beverly Hills, Calif. Poberezny served as EAA AirVenture chairman from 1977 to 2011, EAA president from 1989 to 2010, and chairman of the board from 2009 to 2011. EAA Founder Paul Poberezny is also a Living Legend of Aviation inductee.
Among the other 2013 honorees were former EAA senior vice president, Greg Anderson, who received the “Harrison Ford Aviation Legacy Award,” and John Uczekaj, CEO of Aspen Avionics, recipient of the “Aviation Industry Entrepreneur of the Year Award.” Other persons inducted as Living Legends included Chuck Aaron, James Albaugh, Randy Gaston, Al Haynes, Fatih and Eren Ozmen, and Louis Turpen.
Air show legend Bob Hoover presented two of his “Freedom of Flight Awards” – one to the first man to walk on the moon, the late Neil Armstrong, and another to the last man to drive and walk on the moon, astronaut Eugene “Gene” Cernan.
The prestigious “Aviation Inspiration & Patriotism Award” was presented to David Ellison, accomplished pilot, movie producer, and a member of The Stars of Tomorrow Aerobatic Team.
The Living Legends of Aviation is produced by the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that takes Kiddie Hawk Jet Trainers to schools and aviation exhibitions to give children ages 4-9 the opportunity to experience their first flight lesson, albeit only a few feet off the ground.
