The Officers and Board of Directors of Hangar One held its Ninth Annual Meeting on January 23, 2005 at the NASG Museum, Glen Town Center, Glenview IL. The business meeting of the Ninth Annual Meeting featured a keynote speech by Captain Chuck Downey CO VA-722 and VS-721 (the youngest Naval aviator of World War II), and speeches by Frank R. Mack (President), Larry Carlson (President Village of Glenview), Byron Kanaley (VP of Finance), and William A. Marquardt (VP Operations). Voting concluded for candidates seeking new two year terms, and for an Amendment to the Hangar One By Laws. A Social Hour and media interviews followed the business portion of the Ninth Annual Meeting.

Caption: Frank R. Mack, Hangar One's President, presents Larry Carlson, President of the village of Glenview, with a $6.5 thousand check representing the second payment installment under a loan from Glenview to Hangar One to purchase the Navy Park statues.

Caption: Keynote speaker, Capt. Charles Downey, delivers a powerful keynote address.

::More Pictures from 2005 Annual Meeting ::

Hangar One’s Ninth Annual Meeting featured a keynote speech by Capt. Charles Downey, a NASG Veteran and the youngest Naval Aviator of WWII, delivers a powerful keynote address that centered on the “price of freedom” paid by America’s “Greatest Generation” and the pivotal role played by NASG veterans in winning the Pacific Theater in World War II. Capt. Downey, drew a crowd of 75 – 85 people and much media attention.

Larry Carlson was teary-eyed as he spoke of the importance of commemorating the contributions of NASG, its veterans, and the Village of Glenview to world history and our freedom. Mr. Carlson also praised the success of the Navy Park Memorial Brick Program for its contributions to Navy Park, and its ability to repay the Village of Glenview 2/3rds of its loan to Hangar One to purchase the statue reproductions in the park.

Bill Marquardt and Byron Kanaley celebrated the many accomplishments of Hangar One during 2004, including the finalization of Navy Park, and the grand opening of the Temporary Naval Air Station Glenview Museum.

Caption: Immediate Past President Col. Ace Realie, USMC Ret. is acknowledged for Hangar One’s successes under his presidency, including having NASG Hangar One named to the National Register of Historic Places, the preservation of the NASG Tower and North and South pods, for the creation of Navy Park and the squadron plaques within the Glen Town center.

Frank Mack spoke of his 2005 platform as the President of Hangar One “Last year at this time, as an inexperienced President of a not-for-profit foundation, my 2004-2005 platform was ambitious. I promised to realize a permanent Naval Air Station Glenview Museum in Glenview, preferably in the Glen Town Center, during the tenure of my Presidency. This has proven more challenging than originally contemplated, however, despite our challenges, I remain committed to lead Hangar One and fulfill this promise.

The goal of realizing a Museum that commemorates NASG’s history has been one of the most important goals of Hangar One since our inception. On July 19th, Hangar One proposed a preliminary business plan for a NASG Museum and Challenger Learning Center at the Glen in a letter to the Village President and Trustees. The letter requested that Glenview consider a carve-out of land-banked property on West Lake, near where the main gate of NASG was located, as Hangar One’s permanent site. Unfortunately, our proposal will not result in a viable plan for a permanent NASG Museum.

Currently, Hangar One is exploring with OliverMcMillan and the Village of Glenview the feasibility of locating the NASG Museum as a destination site in the Glen Town Center. In late 2004, we worked with Oliver McMillan to perform a feasibility study to determine if the space below the NASG Tower was an option. Unfortunately, it neither provides enough space nor access to warrant the investment. As such, Hangar One and OliverMcMillan are currently investigating retail space, near Navy Park, as a viable alternative. Hangar One is working with OliverMcMillan to identify such a space, and structure it a price, that will enable us to finance the costs of a purchase or long-term lease, and for the build out, operation and maintenance the site. The Glen Town Center plan is Hangar One’s primary strategy for a permanent NASG Museum, and we believe within our political support and funding capabilities. While this plan is being underwritten, OliverMcMillan is committed to providing this location, or an alternative site within the Glen Town Center, for a temporary NASG Museum”.

An outline of Mr. Mack’s entire speech can be viewed by clicking here.


Caption: After the Color Guard posted the colors, Julia Taicsich led us in the National Anthem as Lt. Col. Gerritt Van Wissink, USA Ret. stands at attention.

The business portion of Hangar One’s Ninth Annual Meeting concluded with the elections of officers and directors seeking new two year terms, and for an Amendment to the Hangar One By Laws.

The Officers and Directors of Hangar One for 2005 are:

Frank R. Mack, President

William A. Marquardt, Vice President of Operations

Byron Kanaley, Vice President of Finance

Lt. Col. G. E. Van Wissink, US Army Ret., Secretary

Bobby Ferguson, USN Ret., Director

Mary A. Long, Director and General Counsel

Capt. John D. Crawford, USN Ret., Director

LCDR Ed Taicsich, USN Ret., Director

Capt. Terry Burke USMC Reserve, Director

Mary Martin Fisk, Director

Michael Melbinger, Director, Special Counsel

LCDR. Ruben Sanmiguel, USN Ret., Director

Robert Reder, Director

Ensign Karl Lau, USN Ret., Director

CPO Thomas Fitzgibbon, USN Ret., Director

The Following Amendment to the By-Laws is ratified:

Under the provisions of the April 2000 edition of the By-Laws, Art. VIII-(ii), the following amendment is submitted to the membership for approval on recommendation of the Board of Directors.

Article IV, Sec. 3 is changed to read: (changed wording underlined)

The number of Directors shall be not less than seven (7) and not more than twenty (20).

Explanation: Changing the maximum number of Directors from 15 to 20 allows greater flexibility in attracting additional interested persons to serve on the Board.

The results of the 2004 Eighth Annual Meeting can be viewed by clicking here, and more details about the meeting can be found here