NAA Names 2012 Distinguished Statesmen Recipients

Stephen Pope

Thursday, October 04, 2012 at 10:05 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) has announced five recipients for this year's Wesley L. McDonald Elder Statesman of Aviation Awards, which honor individuals for their significant, long-term contributions to aeronautics.
The distinguished honorees include aviation artist Keith Ferris, *Flying* magazine publisher Dick Koenig, NASA's first flight director Christopher Kraft, National Association of State Aviation Officials CEO Henry Ogrodzinski, and aviation safety research pioneer Dr. Irving Statler.
Each recipient is recognized for extensive careers spanning decades, with contributions ranging from establishing NASA's Mission Control and advancing aviation safety research to promoting general aviation and documenting aviation history through art.

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The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) has announced the recipients of this year’s Wesley L. McDonald Elder Statesman of Aviation Awards. This year’s recipients include Keith Ferris, Dick Koenig, Christopher Kraft, Henry Ogrodzinski and Dr. Irving Statler. The group will be honored at the NAA Fall Awards Banquet on Tuesday, November 13, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.

Keith Ferris is a 52-year veteran of the Society of Illustrators Air Force Art Program who has flown almost every jet aircraft type in Air Force inventory. He is a founding member and past president of the American Society of Aviation Artists, a 1992 inductee to the Aviation Hall of Fame of New Jersey and may be best known for his two 75-foot murals at the National Air and Space Museum titled “Fortresses Under Fire.”