Contact:
Jimmy Berrong Chairman 706-864-6473
Jerry Morris Secretary 706 864-5902
Lumpkin County Airport Committee
Guy Wimpy Day Honors Local Aviator
October 14 (Dahlonega, GA) – Local aviation pioneer A.G. (Guy) Wimpy will be honored on Saturday, October 23 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Lumpkin County Wimpys Airport. Guy Wimpy Day includes helicopter displays, Lumpkin County Sheriff and Fire Department exhibits, and free EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) Young Eagle airplane rides for kids ages 8 to 17.
“Guy Wimpy and his family provided a great gift for Lumpkin County when they dedicated this parcel of land as a public airport in 1966,” said Jimmy Berrong, Chairman of the Lumpkin County Airport Committee. Berrong said many young (and “older”) student pilots earned their wings at this airfield. Today, this is the only public airport on the GA 400 corridor outside of the Hwy 285 loop around Atlanta. Visitors and businesses use the airport as well as local pilots who maintain airplanes here year round.
At 10 a.m., guest of honor Kathleen Billie Wimpy, Guy’s spouse of 41 years, will arrive via airplane and accept her place as guest of honor at the opening ceremony. Guy, who passed away in 1985, and Billie served Dahlonega and Lumpkin County in several civic and social capacities and were crowned Gold Rush King & Queen in 1981. Billie is 89 years old and still enjoys flying, as she often did with her husband both for business and leisure.
Guy Wimpy bought his first airplane in 1941. Over the next 26 years, he logged more than 10,000 hours of flying time, which according to Berrong is a remarkable amount of time for a general aviation pilot, even today.
Guy’s legacy, his love of flying, continues to be passed to people of all ages in this community event.
The Army National Guard, Emory Air Ambulance, and the Georgia State Patrol all will have helicopters on display. The Civil Air Patrol will have an aircraft and volunteers on hand. Local pilots are donating their time, planes, and fuel for the Young Eagle Rides. Parents should bring proof of age for riders and will need to sign a waiver at the event.
Free hot dogs and drinks will be served starting at 11 a.m. In case of rain, the event will take place Sunday, October 24th, from 1pm to 5pm.
Guy Wimpy Airport Day is organized and sponsored by Friends of Lumpkin County Airport. No public money or tax dollars are used for this event.
