Northwest, United, American, Continental, Delta, Mesaba, Air Wisconsin, Airborne, FedEx, UPS, AirTram … these are just some of the major air carriers in the country that employ graduates of Winona State University's Airway Science Program, under the direction of George Bolon. More than 70 graduates of the program are working in commercial aviation.

Born, raised and educated in Oregon, George joined the U.S. Army in the early 1960s and learned to fly as a member of the Air Defense Command. In 1968, he came to WSU with a master's degree in college student personnel from Oregon State University and took over as Director of the Student Union.

In 1969, he purchased his first airplane, a single engine Comanche, and started doing some flying for Winona State. In 1972, George went to the University of Utah to work on a doctorate degree and returned in 1973 to begin developing an aviation program at Winona State. In 1989, the Federal Aviation Administration presented WSU with Airway Science designation. Winona State's program was the second in the state to attain this recognition and the first to utilize the concept of a minor degree program teamed with the strengths of excellent departmental majors. WSU's FAA Airway Science Program has been the primary training site for pilots in southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

"The students, the faculty, the faculty senate and every president I've worked for has been very supportive of the aviation program, " George said, "and we have tremendous support from the City of Winona and a collaborative relationship with the technical college.

"No school has a learning laboratory like we do. We combine academic programs at the university, power plant and airframe programs at the technical college, a flying club and our operation of the Winona airport."

The WSU Airway Science Program also gets tremendous support from area foundations such as the Bud and Betty King Foundation and the Larry Lunda Foundation along with support from individuals including Tom Johnson and Chuck Mathy. "The special efforts of these people have truly touched the lives of our students," George said, "and given them an opportunity they might not otherwise have had."

George stays in touch with many of his former students, and has a wall in the Winona airport building covered with photographs of his alumni in the cockpits and uniforms of the companies where they work. Thank you notes and appreciative comments adorn the photos and the bulletin boards. "It's not about me," George said. "It's about the students."

Reluctant to name any particular stand-out from among his students, George said, "They are all stars. They're heroes. We have many grads in the service, in Afghanistan, in Iraq." George thought for a moment, then described one alumnus with an interesting story. Brian Huggenvik, a 1984 WSU graduate and a captain at United Airlines, was one of the captains chosen to fly relatives of people that died in the 9-11 tragedy to New York City. Now, Brian's son, Ryan Huggenvik, is a student at Winona State and is enrolled in the Airway Science Program.

"It's kind of frightening to teach the sons and daughters of your former students," George said. Students perceive George as controlling, but they respect him. Tim Allington, a 2003 grad, and now a certified flight instructor in the program, said, "George comes off as tough and demanding, but he has to be that way. The consequences in aviation of one little mental mistake can be too great."

George says he develops a strong, personal bond with his students that is almost parental. "I care," George said. "It's that simple. When a young person wants to join the program, I sit down with them and their parents, and I tell them they have to give me their soul. I never want to have to be standing at a funeral or sitting next to a hospital bed thinking 'If I had only….'

"Aviation can be more unforgiving than the sea. It requires tremendous dedication and precision at all levels at all times," George said. "Safety is the number one issue." When asked about his best day as a pilot, George told of the pride he felt when he flew his parents in 1970.

"Every day I get to fly is a great day," George said, "and the best part is they pay me to fly." Asked if he thinks about retirement, George said he's never really worked a day at Winona State. He's enjoyed every minute. "I told Tom Stark (WSU President 1983-88) that the day I retired, no one would notice, because I'd still be doing the same thing. Tom's wife, Judy, said I had already achieved it."

"The question is how long will I stay healthy?" George said. "As long as I wake up in the morning and enjoy the thought of coming to the airport, I'll keep doing it." An average day for George starts at the airport at 7 a.m., meeting with students, then advising some on classes and airport management duties throughout the day. He teaches class in the evenings, grades papers or exams after that, and gets to bed at midnight.

As a final thought for the alumni of his program, George said, "I need their help."

"If you know of a quality individual who wants a quality education and is interested in aviation… tell them about this great old institution." Just then, Bogey, the aviation commander Golden Retriever, bounded into the room, as if to remind George he had other things to do than to sit and talk to a writer. Off George went to discuss flight plans with students and to prepare his final exam for the airway science class that evening.

Last Modified: Monday, December 06, 2004 16:26 by