BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Telegraph Staff Writer
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— Airport officials and tenants said goodbye to departing airport manager Maria Searcy during a reception at the facility on March 31.
Searcy arrived at the event in a hot rod owned by retired commercial pilot and current airport tenant Ken Oddy.
Officials from some of the airport’s commercial tenants, including MHD Rockland and the College of Missionary Aviation, paid tribute to the departing manager.
Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook sent a letter to the airport marking Searcy’s departure and praising her performance.
Airport Authority Board Chair David Kirkland and Vice chair Scott Fryar also spoke about Searcy’s 12 years of service at the airport.
“When she was hired in December of 2010, she was told, well, you’ve got to answer a few phone calls, and you’ll do a little bit of financial stuff,” Kirkland said.
He added that as Searcy’s responsibilities expanded, she learned to drive the fuel truck and pump jet fuel into airplanes. She also handled interactions with city, county, state and federal officials in addition to a wide range of additional responsibilities.
