By BOBBIE GREEN
The Progress
After twenty years of being the eyes and ears of the Mesquite Municipal Airports Larry LeMieux is hanging up his hat. LeMieux has served for two decades as the Fixed Base Operator at the airport, in charge of the fuel concession there.
In celebration of his retirement his wife Ava threw him a retirement party in one of the hangers at the airport on Saturday night, Dec. 11. The retirement cake included the name “King of Kitty Hawk,” referring to a moniker given to LeMieux in an article which appeared some time ago in the Mesquite Citizens Journal news site. It has stuck ever since.
Mesquite Mayor Al Litman presented LeMieux with a plaque and praised the work he has done at the airport. “It is not too late to change your mind and stay on the job,” Litman joked.
Randy Bauman summarized many of the ways LeMieux has helped others and the community through his organizational skills and volunteering; even outside of his duties at the airport. The list included working with the Southern Nevada Symphony, the Ms. Senior Mesquite Pageant, The Virgin Valley Theater Group, Mesquite Senior Games, Young Eagles, the Dry Heat Band, founder of the High Rollers Club and the Low Flyers Power Parachute Club and organizer of the Black and White Ball.
Larry and Ava came to Mesquite in 2001. It just happened that a pilot friend of LeMieux went to the city and said they needed to get airplane fuel at the airport. Larry applied for and got the job to handle the fuel concession as an independent contractor. Even though his background was as a dance instructor and owner and manager of dance studios, he was given the contract.
For the first few years LeMieux, Ava and their two kids lived in a trailer at the airport. During his entire tenure at the airport his office was just a small wooden shack. Ironically, just as LeMieux was getting ready to retire, the city built the airport a lovely new fueling office.
Through the years LeMieux has coordinated many events to enhance the airport and bring visitors there. One of the programs initiated was hosting Young Eagles events. These occasions gathered small airplane pilots from across the region to the airport to give free rides to young children.
LeMieux’s supervisor at the City, Public Works Director Travis Anderson had good things to say about his long tenure.
“Larry has been a staple for us, our eyes and ears to maintain the airport,” Anderson said. “We always had a good working relationship. He was always on the job, now he will finally be able to take a vacation once in a while.”
LeMieux expects to stay busy even in retirement. He said that he is looking forward to a long-awaited motorcycle road trip with a couple of friends. In addition, he plans to stay active with his band “Dry Heat.” And if course, there is also a newly-built workshop adjacent to his home where he can play, he said.
LeMieux will be on the job until the end of December. When last seen he was enjoying the retirement party immensely.
1 thought on “‘King of Kitty Hawk’ Retires After 20 Years”
Jeff Christensen is 14 year worker that a sold a lot of fuel for him. Give Jeff a hand.