Midwest Flyer Magazine

Awards & Recognition
2000 MAHF inductee, Elizabeth Wall
Strohfus, greets air show performer,
Julie Clark.
2013 Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame inductees or their
representatives (L/R) Pat Kahler, son of inductee, John Kahler; Ray
Johnson; Dale Johnson; Janice Orr Pelletti, daughter of inductee,
Rita Orr; Carol Ziemer, daughter of inductee, Earl Olson; and David
Konshok.
Photos by Dave Weiman
2001 MAHF inductee,
Wayne G. Johnson.
Minnesota Inducts Industry’s Best At 24th Annual Hall of Fame
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
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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