Recap: John Glenn honored at Port Columbus renaming ceremony

The last time Port Columbus International Airport was renamed was 1965, and more than 50 years later, Ohioans and people around the world are lauding the decision to rename the airport after a man who undoubtedly deserves the honor.

Senator John Glenn, born and raised just east of Columbus, expressed his gratitude to the crowd gathered at the newly renamed John Glenn Columbus International Airport.

“It is a great honor to me to have this field with my name on it,” Glenn said. “It’s not just that, though. One of the things that I think is most important about something like this, other than just honoring me, is the fact that it may draw attention for some of our young people and develop their interest in knowing that they, in their time, can do as many new things as have been done in aviation and in flying in the past.”

Indeed, Glenn played a major part in atmospheric and space flight, including setting the transcontinental speed record in 1957 and becoming the first American to orbit the earth in 1962.

In addition to his admirers, Glenn was joined by his wife of 73 years, Annie.

He recalled memories of flying out of the airport–his first commercial flight and the trips to two wars as a fighter pilot.

It was where he fell in love with flying, and now it’s his namesake.

6/14/16: Kasich signs bill renaming Port Columbus after John Glenn

Today Governor John Kasich signed the bill officially renaming Port Columbus in honor of famous Ohio aviator John Glenn.

The bill received broad bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, and will rename the airport John Glenn Columbus International Airport.

Glenn’s life entails a long list of accomplishments and shattered records, including a broken transcontinental speed record in 1957, becoming the first American to orbit the earth, serving four terms in the U.S. Senate as a Democrat (the longest tenure for any Ohioan), and becoming the oldest American to go to space at age 77.

5/24/16: A new name for Port Columbus?

Ohio has its fair share of famous aviators, and one of them could soon have the honor of becoming the namesake of Port Columbus International Airport.

Known for breaking records in aviation, such as the transcontinental speed record in 1957 and the first American to orbit the earth, former Marine Corps pilot and United States Senator John Glenn might soon have his name on central Ohio’s biggest airport.

Lawmakers at the Statehouse think it would be a fitting honor, including House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, who has spearheaded the effort for to honor Glenn.

Rosenberger even got Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther on board, though it’s still unclear whether administrators at Port Columbus support the name change.

Port Columbus’ name has only been changed one other time since its founding in 1929, when the “international” was added in 1965.

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