Avionics News December 2012 - 36

REMEMBERING MONTE R. MITCHELL
Continued from page 35

ALAN HANKS,
International Avionics Inc. (owners of Narco)

director of the Aircraft Electronics Association and publisher of Avionics News. At that time, the magazine was six black and white pages. At Monte’s urging, AAI ran the ﬁrst color ad in what is now one of the most prestigious magazines in the industry. Monte worked tirelessly for the AEA. During the 1970s, membership tripled, including the recruitment of members who went on to take leadership roles in the association. I was glad to play a part in helping Monte with those recruitments. In 1979, the AEA gave me an award for my many years of dedicated service to the association. At the awards banquet, I jokingly accused Monte of trying to make up for the fact that he set up additional distribution in competition with me when he was at Bonzer, and I would not forgive him for that no matter how many awards he gave me. It produced a good laugh from the attendees; in truth, I had forgiven Monte years before. Rest well, my friend.

It was about 1968 or 1969, and I was in Denver calling on Chuck Peacock. He told me he had someone he wanted me to meet. It turned out to be Monte Mitchell. We had dinner and a couple of drinks, and the three of us had a great time. We talked almost totally about the aircraft electronics industry, its future and the future of the AEA. It wasn’t long after that Gil Quinby and Chuck Peacock called and told me Monte was going to be leading the AEA. My thought at the time was perfect. As we all know, Monte gave our industry many years of service, and we all beneﬁted. In fact, our industry wouldn’t have gone anywhere, if it hadn’t been for Monte. He personally gave me, as I know he did for many, a lot of great advice. I will never forget him. Monte Mitchell was a true avionics icon and a true friend to us all.

GARY KELLEY,

Garmin International (retired vice president)

JAMES E. MILLER, Brazos Avionics As the ﬁrst minority to own and operate an avionics business, I was grateful to Monte in his efforts to inspire me to inspire others. Monte personally called me in 1988, to ﬁll the resignation of an AEA board member. The call sprung the start of a beautiful relationship between me, Monte and his wife. One funny experience: At the 1993 AEA International Convention in New Orleans, there was a male beauty contest during the Awards Banquet conducted by Miss North Carolina. Monte and I me eti nor, the AEA Lif A’s highest ho AEA were the ﬁnalists ell accepted AE om left) Debra McFarland, Mitch (fr In 2007, Monte with daughters Paula Derks, AEA president. d vement Award, on stage. I pride Achie Lufft; an president; Lisa executive vice myself in my dress, having no reason to expose my socks, but I wore white that night. As AEA board members were eliminated down to Monte and me, I began to perspire. What would she require us to do in a ﬁnal elimination? Yes, to roll up our pants and show our legs with me wearing white knee-high socks. That beauty pageant bonded us for life. Monte was my friend.
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AVIONICS NEWS

I was privileged to have known and worked with Monte Mitchell throughout the years and fortunate to have learned from this talented leader. During his tenure at the AEA, general aviation swung wildly up and down and had many onerous attacks that brought the industry to its knees. Despite all of these challenges, Monte always remained a steadfast, positive voice of action in the industry. My ﬁrst opportunity to work with Monte was on the AEA Future Study Committee in 1991, where I was able to see the maestro at work ﬁrst hand. Monte had a natural ability to envision how the world should come together on projects like this one. Monte established a solid team with a facilitator to take on the task of trying to visualize the future. I came to appreciate Monte’s organizational, visionary and, more than anything else, his people-to-people skills. There were numerous opportunities during these meetings for Monte to resolve conﬂicts and move the project forward to completion. I could go on and on with Monte’s successes, but I wish to comment on his dedication to push the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994 to passage. It was a godsend for general aviation. Without the passage of this bill, the general aviation industry would be a disaster. General aviation has been fortunate during the years to have a few solid leaders such as Monte, and we are all that much better off because of his leadership. When you remember Monte, just recall his intelligence, dedication, charm, wit and, more than anything else, his endearing smile.

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DECEMBER

2012

Avionics News December 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News December 2012