The Stillwater Regional Airport is dedicated to the memory of Hoyt E. Walkup. Hoyt was a native of Hollis, OK and came to Searcy Field now known as Stillwater Municipal Airport in 1947. He had just completed four years as an air force pilot and was employed by Oklahoma State University as a flight instructor and charter pilot. He would continue to derive in the air force reserves for 16 years. As the founder of the Oklahoma State University Flying Aggies, one of the nation’s top collegiate flight teams, his enthusiasm for aviation influenced the lives of many you aviators. In 1952 he became the airport manager, a position he held until his death in 1982. In 1987 Hoyt was inducted into the Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame. He was an F.A.A. Pilot Examiner and was influential in the implementation of the Biennial Flight Review. Driven with a great desire to help people, Hoyt Pioneered the research and development of flight controls that would enable the physically limited to pilot an airplane and become certificated pilots. A prominent figure in the Oklahoma Flying Farmers and the International Flying Farmers, Hoyt is remembered for the leadership of the annual Flying Farmers’ Flight in Costa Rica. Hoyt was known as a humorist. His antics as the “Russian Queen,” a not-too-graceful stewardess, or his practical jokes still bring a smile to the lips of many. “Behind every good man is a good woman.” Arlene’s support of Hoyt gave credence to this old adage. His enthusiasm for aviation was shared by Arlene and each of their sons, John, Jerry and Terry, as they all became pilots. Hoyt Walkup was an aviation enthusiast, a humorist, a pioneer, a man whose contributions to aviation will always be remembered. His favorite poem below, “A Grey Haired Man”, says a lot about the man. “A grey haired man was traveling’ down the road until he came to a chasm, vast, deep and wide and he started to build a bridge to span the tide - Suddenly he was safe on the other side. A fellow pilgrim near said 'Grey haired man, you’re wasting your time of day. You never again will pass this way.' But I'm not wasting my time of day because after me there will follow a youth. He, too, must cross in the twilight dim. I’m building this bridge for him."