BLOOMINGTON, MINN. – Inducted April 20, 2013 at the Ramada Mall of America Hotel in Bloomington, Minn., was Darwin “Dale” Johnson of Crookston, Raymond Johnson of Marshall, John H. Kahler II of Fairmont,
David R. Konshok of Park Rapids, Earl O. Olson of Duluth, and Rita Ann Bondy Orr of Faribault. Inductees are selected for their uniqueness, and role in – and contributions to – aviation.
Darwin Johnson (1936 – ) was born in North Dakota and moved to Crookson, Minnesota in 1948. He worked on helicopters in Korea, learned to fly in 1988, and built aircraft, including the Air Guard Curtiss Jenny, and Centennial Wright Flyer replicas, and restored a Waco CG-4A glider.
Raymond Johnson (1932 – ) left his mark as an agricultural and charter pilot, flight instructor, and pilot examiner. He began his career as a crop duster in South Dakota, and went on to own Tracy Air Service and Midwest Aviation.
John Kahler (1928 – 2011) flew helicopters in Korea, the Naval Reserves, and was commander of the Naval Reserve Station – Twin Cities from 1967-75. He served on the Metropolitan Airports Commission, the Air Guard Foundation, and the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame. An active aviator to the end, Kahler took up soaring at Stanton Airfield in 1992.
David Konshok (1926 – ) moved from Montana to Park Rapids, Minn. when he was 4 years old where he learned to fly and made contributions in developing the airport. He helped to found the local unit of the Civil Air Patrol, and has the distinction of serving on the Park Rapids Airport Commission for 60 years.
Earl Olson (1899 – 1972) did much to develop Duluth International Airport starting when the land was purchased by the City of Duluth. After a career as a barnstormer throughout Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota, Olson worked for Northern Air Service, then in maintenance for the airport, eventually becoming airport manager in 1939. Olson did much to strengthen relations between the city and the airport until he retired in 1965.
Rita Ann Bondy Orr (1921 – 2009) grew up in Detroit, Michigan and moved to Minnesota in 1948. She helped establish the Minnesota Chapter of the Ninety-Nines, worked to improve the Faribault Airport, and flew more than 200 lifesaving blood runs.
Of all of the acceptance speeches made by recipients and their family members, the strongest message conveyed was the importance of recognizing inductees before they are gone.
Recognized for “Best Aviation Writing” by a Minnesotan in 2013 was Jim Hanson of Albert Lea, who has written for Minnesota Flyer, Midwest Flyer Magazine, and EAA publications. In his acceptance speech, Hanson noted the importance of aviators expressing their views, documenting their experiences, and sharing their knowledge through the print media.
Recognized for “Best Aviation Art” by a Minnesotan in 2013 was Bruce McClain, who was born and educated in Wisconsin, later moving to St. Peter, Minnesota to become a professor of art at Gustavus Adolphus College. His aviation art is displayed in the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, New York Whitney Museum of American Art, the offices of 3M, and elsewhere.
Also recognized during the event was Woody Minar of Osceola, Wisconsin. Minar was “Flight Instructor of the Year” in the Minneapolis Flight Standards District Office area and FAA Great Lakes Region in 2012. He was also the Minneapolis Flight Standards District Office and FAA Great Lakes Region FAAST Team Representative of the Year for 2013. In addition to being a flight instructor at L.O. Simenstad Municipal Airport in Osceola, Wisconsin, Minar is a contributing editor to Midwest Flyer Magazine (www.mnaviationhalloffame.org).
