H.C.R. No. 130
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, July 4, 2017, represents the centennial of the first
landing by an aircraft at Mineola-Wisener Field Airport in Wood
County; and
WHEREAS, On the Fourth of July, 1917, Lieutenant Ralph W.
Stone of the U.S. Army Signal Corps landed his Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny"
biplane at what was then known as Massingale Meadow, proving the
field's suitability as an emergency landing site between Love Field
in Dallas and a military base in Shreveport, Louisiana; witnessing
this first landing was a 12-year-old local farm boy named Robert
Henry Wisener Jr.; and
WHEREAS, Over the next few years, the field was used by such
pioneer aviators as Wiley Post, who was the first man to fly solo
around the world, and Hollywood stunt pilot Roy Wilson, who in the
summer of 1923 taught Henry Wisener how to fly; in 1926, Mr. Wisener
leased the site, renamed it Royal Field, and began providing flight
lessons, aircraft repairs, and aircraft fuel; together with his
brother, Bryce, he also established the Royal Flying Circus, which
offered airplane rides and performed aerobatics; and
WHEREAS, In 1941, Henry Wisener bought the site and 50
adjacent acres and lengthened the runway to accommodate newer
aircraft, and after World War II, the brothers added an aircraft
repair shop, a classroom, a flight office, and a beacon tower; from
1963 to 1983, the airport was leased to the City of Mineola and
called Mineola Municipal Airport, and since 1983, it has been known
as Mineola-Wisener Field Airport; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, this historic airfield and the
family behind it have been honored on a number of occasions; Charles
Lindbergh presented the airport in 1928 with a certificate from the
Daniel Guggenheim Fund for the Promotion of Aeronautics, and the
Texas Historical Commission has conferred on the airport both an
Official Texas Historical Marker and a Texas Treasure Business
Award; on May 2, 1980, the city of Mineola celebrated Henry and
Bryce Wisener Day, in recognition of their contributions to
American and Wood County aviation; today, the site of the airport is
also home to the Royal Flying Circus Aviation Museum and to a
chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association; and
WHEREAS, Still owned by the Wisener family, the
Mineola-Wisener Field Airport is the oldest privately held
public-use airport in Texas and the home base of more than 70
aircraft, and it continues to support the local economy and to
contribute to the rich history of aviation in the Lone Star State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first landing at
Mineola-Wisener Field Airport and extend to the Wisener family and
to everyone associated with the airport sincere best wishes for the
future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mineola-Wisener Field Airport as an expression of high
regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.
Hefner
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 130 was adopted by the House on May
25, 2017, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 130 was adopted by the Senate on May
26, 2017, by a viva-voce vote.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor