"FAA says Meridian Airport has top-flight manager"

Friday, February 7, 2003

FAA says Meridian Airport has top-flight manager
By William F. West
The Meridian (MS) Star


Meridian Regional Airport President Tom Williams said he was shocked when he
learned that not just a small airport - but his small airport - was cited by
the government for management excellence.

The Federal Aviation Administration named Williams the 2002 Commercial
Service Airport Manager of the Year for the Southeastern region. 

Williams received the award during an annual conference in Atlanta, where
the FAA had started presenting the honor in recent years. 

Williams joked that he walked around stunned for the next few days.

"My face hurt from smiling so much," he recalled Thursday. "There are not
many awards given in aviation for airport management - and the one that
everybody knows about is given by the FAA," he said.

"My gosh, the FAA is a tough judge," he said. 

The award is based on significant accomplishments, development initiatives,
efficiency and leadership.

Williams' name was in competition with managers of much larger airports. 

Williams said he believes Meridian sometimes underrates itself and is
jealous of what other cities have.

"Certainly we do want more to happen in our community in terms of economic
development and growth. But we have an awful lot to be proud of already," he
said.

"Our airport is one of those things," he said. 

"And the FAA has recognized that Meridian's airport has achieved the status
of the best," he said.

Underutilized resource

Dick Hall, the state's central district transportation commissioner, said he
believes the award will help what he believes is an underutilized resource.

"I keep talking about the Meridian area as being the next place for growth,
a place for some serious industrial activity to happen - because you've got
the two interstate 
highways intersecting there, you've got two main line railroads intersecting
there," Hall said.

"And you've got that airport out there that can be used for a lot more than
it's being used for," he said.

"It's piece of that puzzle, it's a piece of that solution that other
communities don't have," he said.

Meridian's airport had been run by City Hall before becoming self-sufficient
in 1990. A few years later, an airport authority was created. 

The airport and its $500,000 operating budget are overseen by Williams and a
five-member board of directors.

Deserves award

Myles Frank, the board chairman, said Williams deserves the FAA award
because he does an excellent job managing the airport.

"He just stays on top of everything that needs to be done," Frank said.

"And when something comes up that needs to be done, he gets it done right
away," he said.

Meridian Councilman Bobby Smith said he believes the award is great for the
city.

"I think Tom has done a wonderful job," he said.

The Williams File

Name: Tom Williams.

Age: 42.

Occupation: President and chief executive officer of the Meridian Airport
Authority since 1986.

Previous experience: Received his pilot license in 1976. Joined Great
Southern National Bank in 1982. Started out as a co-pilot on the bank's
airplane and worked in marketing department until joining the airport. 

Education: Holds a degree in communications and public relations from
Mississippi State University.

Family: Wife, Sharon, and two children.

Attached Photo:

TOP AWARD - Tom Williams, Meridian Regional Airport president, shows his
award for 2002 Commercial Service Airport Manager of the Year for the
Southeastern region. Williams was given the award by the Federal Aviation
Administration, which cited his management excellence.

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