Henry Ogrodzinski, a “beloved gentleman-statesman” of aviation who for the past 18 years served as president and CEO of the National Association of State Aviation Officials, died at his home in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 65.
Ogrodzinski, known as Henry O to friends, began his aviation advocacy work at the Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in the 1980s. In addition to managing all public and media communications for EAA, he also testified frequently before Congress on aviation issues.
