SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 820
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 United States 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 Senate of the State of Texas, 85th
Legislature, 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 a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
Mineola-Wisener Field Airport as an expression of high regard
from the Texas Senate.
Hughes
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 19, 2017.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate