She Has 20-Plus

Years Experience

In Aviation Field;

Succeeds Henard

By AMY ROSE

Staff Writer

Janet Malone was elected chairman of the Greeneville-Greene County Airport Authority in a called meeting on Thursday morning.

Malone, whose election was unanimous, will succeed Dr. Don Henard, who died in May after suffering a massive heart attack.

Malone has served on the Airport Authority since being appointed by the Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldermen in September 2005.

She has more than 20 years of aviation experience, including work for Diamond G Aviation at the Greeneville-Greene County Municipal Airport and as a flight dispatcher for General Aviation Inc. in Greeneville.

Malone is a native of the Romeo community in northern Greene County and is married to retired local businessman Max Cox.

John Carter, who presided over the election, will remain vice chairman of the Airport Authority.

Carter opened the very brief meeting with a moment of silence in memory of Henard, who had served as Airport Authority chairman since January 2006.

He recalled Henard as a "tireless worker" who had devoted most of his retirement years to public service in a variety of roles.

Henard was a prominent orthopaedic surgeon for 25 years in Memphis before he and his wife returned home to Greeneville seven years ago.

In his role as chairman of the Airport Authority, Henard had for the last few years been the Authority's primary leader and spokesman concerning the proposed, sometimes-controversial runway realignment project at the airport.

Runway Realignment Project

Both Carter and Malone stressed that the Airport Authority will continue with its major runway realignment project.

Malone said the Airport Authority will work closely with city and county officials to make the project proceed as efficiently and effectively as possible.

"We will complete the project," she said, "and make sure the citizens of Greeneville and Greene County have a good airport they can be proud of."

The estimated $15 million five-year project includes multiple phases of construction to correct two major safety concerns -- line-of-sight problems caused by a "hump" near the runway's center, and inadequate safety areas on both sides of the runway and on the end.

The project calls for the acquisition of eight or nine homes near the runway expansion area.

Malone said the Airport Authority will have a lengthy agenda for its August meeting, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 4, in the board room at Town Hall.