2012 inductees to the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame (L/R): Orville Brede, Ken Neustel, Joe Kimm, Jr. and Susan Kimm Cotton (accepting for their father, Joseph Kimm), Brian Moon, Ray Rought, and Duane Wething. Investiture ceremonies were held April 28, 2012 at the Ramada Mall of America Hotel, Bloomington, Minnesota.
BLOOMINGTON, MINN. – The Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame inducted six Minnesota aviation personalities, April 28, 2012 at investiture ceremonies held at the Ramada Mall of America Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota. Inductees included Orville Brede, WWII veteran, instructor pilot, pilot examiner, charter pilot and fixed base operator; Joseph Kimm, pioneer Northwest Airlines pilot; Bryan Moon, artist, former Northwest Airlines Vice President, and President of MIA Hunters, whose mission is to recover remains of missing military airmen; Kenneth Neustel, veteran of the 82nd Airborne, and the leading skydiving record holder and parachute rigger/instructor in Minnesota; Raymond Rought, Vietnam veteran, and long-time Minnesota Aeronautics Director; and Duane Wething, pilot, aircraft rebuilder, and the driving force in the development of Detroit Lakes Airport. In addition, the Hall of Fame awarded the Best Aviation Writing Award to Paul M. Sailer of Wadena, for “The Oranges Are Sweet” book, and Best Aviation Art by a Minnesotan Award to Stephen Nesser of Northfield, Minnesota. Scholarships were awarded to David Heckman of Apple Valley, Minn., and Jackson Kranz of Lakeville, Minn. For details, refer to mnaviationhalloffame.org.
