Galesburg’s airport will soon bear the name of a longtime local leader in aviation.
Aldermen are expected to approve a resolution Monday which would name the Galesburg Regional Airport in honor of Harrel W. Timmons. The resolution will be considered at Monday’s Galesburg City Council meeting.
Timmons founded Jet Air Inc., the fixed base operator (FBO), for the Galesburg airport in 1969 and served as the president of the FBO until his retirement in 2023. Throughout that time, the airport has benefited the community with significant use by recreational pilots, as well as corporations and businesses. The airport was recently upgraded from a local municipal airport to a regional airport by the Federal Airport Administration (FAA), opening up opportunities for increased services and additional funding from the FAA.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to honor and thank Harrel for his noteworthy contributions to the Galesburg airport,” said Eric Hanson, Galesburg City Manager. “The city is grateful for the leadership Harrel has provided at the airport and pleased to have this opportunity to thank him for his outstanding service to our community.”
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Timmons has been instrumental in the airport’s success, and holds commercial, flight, and ground instructor ratings, as well as an airline transport pilot certificate with 20,000 hours flying time. Timmons is also an FAA designated pilot examiner and certified aircraft mechanic with inspection authorization. Through this expertise, he has helped many employees advance to the airlines or become corporate pilots and mechanics. His success in the aviation field was recognized in 2011 when Timmons was inducted into the Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame.
Timmons tells WGIL, “It was a shock and a tremendous surprise. I certainly wasn’t expecting it. I’m honored and very appreciative.”
Galesburg Regional Airport is home to the National Stearman Fly-in, and Timmons has been a member of the National Stearman Board of Directors since its inception in 1971, as well as a member of the Stearman Foundation Board of Directors.
In addition to his substantial contributions at the airport, Timmons is active in the community and has been a member of the Galesburg Rotary Club for more than 40 years. He and his wife have been involved in the Rotary Youth Exchange, bringing students to the community from all over the world.
The City of Galesburg will honor Harrel Timmons for his exceptional contributions to the Galesburg Regional Airport and the community by officially naming and referring to the airport as the Harrel W. Timmons Galesburg Regional Airport. An official naming ceremony and event will be held in the spring.
City-owned Galesburg Municipal Airport, for many years classified as a local airport, recently received upgraded status to a regional facility, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
“I’ve contended for 30 or 40 years that the Galesburg airport was grossly underrated, considering everything it does for the community and the area,” Timmons said. “Getting the regional designation is a real plus for the Galesburg area.
“Ultimately, it will lead to a huge increase of government support.”
