SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 820
         WHEREAS, July 4, 2017, represents the centennial of the
  first landing by an aircraft at Mineola-Wisener Field Airport in
  Wood County; and
 
         WHEREAS, On the Fourth of July, 1917, Lieutenant Ralph W.
  Stone of the United States Army Signal Corps landed his Curtiss
  JN-4 "Jenny" biplane at what was then known as Massingale Meadow,
  proving the field's suitability as an emergency landing site
  between Love Field in Dallas and a military base in Shreveport,
  Louisiana; witnessing this first landing was a 12-year-old local
  farm boy named Robert Henry Wisener Jr.; and
 
         WHEREAS, Over the next few years, the field was used by
  such pioneer aviators as Wiley Post, who was the first man to fly
  solo around the world, and Hollywood stunt pilot Roy Wilson, who
  in the summer of 1923 taught Henry Wisener how to fly; in 1926,
  Mr. Wisener leased the site, renamed it Royal Field, and began
  providing flight lessons, aircraft repairs, and aircraft fuel;
  together with his brother, Bryce, he also established the Royal
  Flying Circus, which offered airplane rides and performed
  aerobatics; and
 
         WHEREAS, In 1941, Henry Wisener bought the site and 50
  adjacent acres and lengthened the runway to accommodate newer
  aircraft, and after World War II, the brothers added an aircraft
  repair shop, a classroom, a flight office, and a beacon tower;
  from 1963 to 1983, the airport was leased to the City of Mineola
  and called Mineola Municipal Airport, and since 1983, it has been
  known as Mineola-Wisener Field Airport; and
 
         WHEREAS, Over the years, this historic airfield and the
  family behind it have been honored on a number of occasions;
  Charles Lindbergh presented the airport in 1928 with a
  certificate from the Daniel Guggenheim Fund for the Promotion of
  Aeronautics, and the Texas Historical Commission has conferred
  on the airport both an Official Texas Historical Marker and a
  Texas Treasure Business Award; on May 2, 1980, the city of
  Mineola celebrated Henry and Bryce Wisener Day, in recognition of
  their contributions to American and Wood County aviation; today,
  the site of the airport is also home to the Royal Flying Circus
  Aviation Museum and to a chapter of the Experimental Aircraft
  Association; and
 
         WHEREAS, Still owned by the Wisener family, the
  Mineola-Wisener Field Airport is the oldest privately held
  public-use airport in Texas and the home base of more than 70
  aircraft, and it continues to support the local economy and to
  contribute to the rich history of aviation in the Lone Star
  State; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th
  Legislature, hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of the
  first landing at Mineola-Wisener Field Airport and extend to the
  Wisener family and to everyone associated with the airport
  sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further
 
         RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
  Mineola-Wisener Field Airport as an expression of high regard
  from the Texas Senate.
 
  Hughes
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on May 19, 2017.
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate