NBAA’s First President, John Winant: 1923-2009

John Winant, the first president of the (then) National Business Aircraft Association, died at his home in Massachusetts January 14. The former Sprague Electric vice president was 85. Winant is remembered as the driving force that took NBAA (now the National Business Aviation Association) from 824 member companies to close to 3,000. An original member of the board, he became president in 1971 and served in that role until he retired in 1986. Current NBAA President Ed Bolen said of Winant: "His integrity, knowledge, dedication and gentle nature made him an extraordinarily effective advocate for our community." His funeral was January 17 in Williamstown, Massachusetts.