Avionics News December 2012 - 37

JIM COOK, Palm Beach Avionics Heroes are few and far between. Monte was a hero of mine. I ﬁrst saw him at an AEA Regional Meeting in the mid-1970s, but kept my distance because he seemed so busy making sure everything was going OK. Next time I saw him, he spoke to me and called me by my ﬁrst name. Wow, Monte Mitchell knows my name. To me, he was the AEA. A few years later, I was asked to ﬁll a vacancy on the board of directors. Monte was always kind, considerate and caring of others. I never heard him speak ill of another person. Although I knew he must have had a personal life full of responsibilities, he seemed to live for the AEA. I often wondered where he got his energy and enthusiasm; he was an inspiration to all of us. It was truly a pleasure to be in his presence and work with him on industry issues. We accomplished a lot together, and I treasured his friendship. Farewell, my friend. Your hard work and accomplishments are being built upon today. PETE BUNCE,

and personal concern for the market the AEA represents. I ﬁrst met Monte at Bonzer Radar Altimeter in 1975, when I was with Jeppesen-Sanderson and continued to enjoy our business relationship after I joined Flying in 1976. During those years, I met and became friends with both Paula Derks and Debra McFarland, never knowing they were his daughters until a number of years after he retired. He was a quiet but visionary leader, a terriﬁc person and a wonderful man, husband, father and grandfather.

DR. PEGGY CHABRIAN,

Women in Aviation, International

General Aviation Manufacturers Association

It is with deep sorrow that we remember Monte Mitchell and his contributions to our industry. Monte devoted more than 40 years of his life to aviation, and he was a true pioneer in advancing and revitalizing the general aviation industry. Monte’s work was crucial to establishing the General Aviation Revitalization Act and having the milestone legislation signed into law by President Clinton. GARA was revolutionary, and without Monte Mitchell’s hard work and perseverance, it would not have been possible.

My introduction to Monte occurred in the early 1990s when I was president of the University Aviation Association. I remember his dedication to ensuring a viable future and longterm supply of avionics technicians, providing input and suggestions for how the colleges and universities could help ensure that success for the industry. Several years later, when Women in Aviation, International was founded, he lent his support to bring more women into the industry. He was always very gracious, willing to share ideas and encourage others. Monte did a wonderful job in growing the AEA, and we will miss him.

DICK DONOVAN, Terra Monte Mitchell is certainly a name to be remembered. He started at Wilcox Electric the day before I did in June 1957. Monte went into sales, I went into engineering. We became good buddies and have stayed that way all these many years. In the late 1960s, Wilcox was bought and reorganized. All the sales and marketing was reorganized by the new owner who knew nothing about the Wilcox radios, and sales dried up. After some time, Wilcox woke up and realized they needed Monte back to revitalize sales. However, Monte had already joined the AEA full time and certainly built a legacy. DICK KOENIG, Flying Magazine During some 20 years of faithful service, Monte Mitchell has certainly been the guiding light and the steady hand for the amazing growth of the AEA. Tripling its membership, initiating countless new programs, building a world-class convention and bringing fun and a spirit of team and family into the daily operations of the association were hallmarks of his leadership

DAVE SPEER, AOPA (retired senior vice president) Monte was a person you could always call upon for a thoughtful opinion, advice and support. He was a valued friend and helpful facilitator to many worthwhile causes. He was a beacon of wisdom, strong character and idealistic values, and he lived his life accordingly. His leadership skills were key to the success of many organizations, including the AEA, and his contributions to the aviation industry at large were frequent and well-recognized. His legacy is best portrayed by the success of the people and organizations he nurtured throughout his life. Monte’s dedication and loyalty to his family, friends and industry associates remained unwavering to the end. His presence will be missed by so many admirers. BILL BRODEGARD, Aspen Avionics I remember Monte as a kind and friendly leader who surprisingly knew me a lot better than I knew him. He always greeted me with a handshake and a smile. I always knew he was watching out for my interests and the interests of all of us trying to make a living in the avionics business. Monte’s vision and determination set the course for an orContinued on following page
AVIONICS NEWS

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DECEMBER

2012

Avionics News December 2012

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