The Houston Aviation Alliance (HAA) and the Pearland/Hobby Area Chamber of Commerce have recently awarded four $1,000 scholarships in memory of Al Johnson. These scholarships memorialize Mr. Johnson, who was very active in both organizations. Part of the criteria for the scholarships was to pursue an aviation-related career and be enrolled in a local college or university.

The recipients are: Joshua Kethan, Cynthia Tittle, Tracy Reeves, Andrew Killoran. Each of these students will attend Westwood College of Aviation Technology.

The money was raised at the annual Hobby AeroFest event, which took place on April 7 and 8, 2001 at Houston's Hobby Airport, which was a city festival in celebration of aviation designed for the entire family. Many military, antique, airline, corporate and private aircraft were on static display. Visitors also enjoyed food, music, vendors, and fun for all ages. Headline attractions included a rare and beautiful Lockheed Constellation propeller-driven airliner, a World War II Boeing B-17 bomber operated by the Confederate Air Force, and a Vietnam-era McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II fighter. Hobby AeroFest truly let Houston experience aviation from inside the airport fence.

Hobby AeroFest was sponsored and designed to recognize Hobby Airport for its economic impact on the local economy, and represents a tremendous opportunity to raise public and private awareness of the importance of Hobby airport, aviation in general, and commerce throughout the area.

HAA Meetings are held the first Monday of each month at the Hobby Hilton. Registration and lunch begin at 11:30, followed by the speaker program. Past speakers included Meg Lonero, Hobby Airport Manager and Lt. Col. Stephan Higgs, Texas Air National Guard, and Mr. Gene Krantz, Retired Flight Director of Apollo 13.