Two local men were honored on Wednesday with awards from the
Federal Aviation Administration for 50 years of error-free work,
one as a mechanic, the other as a pilot.
Don Mangold and Ray Lewis received awards and pins for their
efforts as part of a special presentation before the regular
monthly meeting of the Bradford Regional Airport Authority at the
airport.
Mangold, who was celebrating his birthday on Wednesday, garnered
the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award, while Lewis received the
White Boiler Master Pilot Award.
Officials said the awards, handed out by Henrik Vejlstrup of the
FAA, were the only such two handed out by the agency this year; all
told, only 200 have ever been presented.
“Fifty years is a long time to be working in the same field …
it’s a significant achievement,” Vejlstrup told the nearly 20
people in attendance.
Vejlstrup said to receive one of the awards, the FAA has to get
three recommendations about each person.
According to Vejlstrup, Mangold began his career with the
airport in 1948, later joining Boeing, where he worked for 30
years. He was also with NASA and the Sky Lab and Apollo
projects.
“He has been all over the world,” Vejlstrup said, adding Mangold
even received an accommodation from the Russians for his part in
the Sky Lab project.
In accepting his award and pins, Mangold said he would be giving
one of the pins to his granddaughter, Michele, who is in her first
year at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.
“She is the first female licensed pilot to enter the Air Force
Academy,” Mangold said, “and I’m proud of her.”
Meanwhile, Lewis, who has played an instrumental role in the
history of the airport as a member of McKean Aviation, has served
as a designated pilot examiner for the FAA and aviation safety
counselor, among others.
Lewis also flew planes for the former Chautauqua Airlines for a
period of time.
“Ray Lewis is a trusted member of our society,” Vejlstrup said.
“He has done almost everything (in aviation).”
The ceremony was attended by members of the authority, the
recipients’ families and friends and other officials.
