Ranger Aviation Celebrates 50 Years, CEO Honored with FAA Award

San Angelo Mayor Brenda Gunter praised John Fields, President and CEO of Ranger Aviation, for his pivotal role in the airport’s success.

“This airport has seen growth and development that many people didn’t think would ever happen,” Gunter said during the ceremony. “It wouldn’t have happened if someone like John Fields had not put a foot down and said, we can make this airport something more important.”

Mayor Gunter also reflected on her personal connection to the airport, mentioning her late husband’s fondness for visiting and his friendship with Fields.

"This has been a part of my life since I've been here in San Angelo, Texas, and I can't imagine a better reason to be out here today than to celebrate John Fields and what he's done," she said. 

As part of the celebration, a sheep statue painted to resemble Fields’ Mooney aircraft was unveiled. The statue was a gift commemorating Ranger Aviation’s 50 years in business.

John Richardson, a close friend of Fields, awarded him the prestigious FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. The award is given to pilots who have flown for 50 continuous years without incidents or rule violations, an honor only about 400 pilots receive annually.

“John’s done that,” Richardson said, recounting how Fields started his aviation journey by working in a café in Sonora to pay for flying lessons, so young at the time that his mother had to drive him to his lessons.

You can watch our interview with Fields here: