MUSEUM HISTORY

THE BEGINNING

In August of 1993, the Superior Northland Chapter of the Air Force Association (AFA), agreed to take the initiative and sponsor “The K.I. Sawyer Heritage Air Museum.” To date, the museum has been chartered by the State of Michigan as a non-profit corporation and operates under the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 501 C.3 tax-exempt status.

Although sponsored by the AFA, once fully established, it will be a self-sustaining educational facility.

Until December 2005, all the museum artifacts were in storage awaiting a permanent home.

Through the cooperation and encouragement of the West Branch Township Community Center, the museum has a home. A room within the community center with a possible future exit out to the static displays has been made available.

The mission of the museum will be to preserve the heritage of K.I. Sawyer as a living legacy of military aviation, and as a memorial to the many years military planes criss-crossed the skies over the Upper Peninsula of Michigan from Ironwood to Sault Ste. Marie, and to the thousands of men and women who served and lived in this community over the past forty nine years. The museum will be charged with preserving what we can of this past era for our children, grand children and all future generations.

FIRST BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The first Board of Directors,officer’s and their committee assignments for the K.I. Sawyer Heritage Air Museum

Dave Allie – Chairman of the Board Phyllis Maki

Dan Benstrom – Exec. Dir. & Interim Curator James Murdey – Finance

Stu Bradley - Membership Kirk Nelson - Membership

Willard Carne Ken Palmer – Finance

James Collins Herb Parsons

George Copher Tom Peters

Frances Jo Curtis - Membership Joseph Pietro

James Elder - Finance & Resident Agent Rodger Pietro - Membership

Gerry Grundstrom Mike Simondet

Darlene Inch - Membership Geoff Smith – Sec./Tres.

Paul Suomi – Membership

CHARTER MEMBERS

Dave Allie                                                                  Jeanette A. Maki
Dan Benstrom                                                          Phyllis Maki
Stu Bradley                                                               Steven C. Mattson
Mark W. Breit                                                            Robert L. Morrison
Mike & Martha Conley                                            Pat O’Day
George Copher                                                        Ken Palmer
Frances Jo Curtis                                                    Rudolph F. Peksens
Jim Elder                                                                   William Perry
Allan W. Erickson                                                    Tom Peters
Catherine M. Erickson                                            Dan Phillips
John D. Erm                                                             Joe Pietro
Gerry Grundstrom                                                    Ryan D. Pontius
Robert L. Hall                                                            James C. Scullion
Richard V. Higgins                                                  Geoff Smith
Ray Hirvonen                                                           Paul Suomi
Irvin W. Horton                                                         Lawrence A. Tavernini
Darlene Inch                                                             Gary C. White
James Johnson                                                       Robert & Elaine Willmes
Patsy C. Johnson                                                    Ted Wuerffel
Daniel V. Kill                                                            George T. LaBlonde, Jr.
Rodger E. Linnee

CHARTER SPONSORS

Macasu, Inc. Action Publications

Elder Agency Crown Motors, Marquette

Hirvonen Foundation Crown Motors, Negaunee

Casa Calabria Louisiana Pacific

MFC 1^st National Bank Marquette Rotary

K.I. Sawyer Square & Compass Wal-Mart Foundation

K.I. Sawyer AFB Eagles Fund

MUSEUM CONSTRUCTION