Last week the Rhinelander City Council approved it, and Tuesday the Oneida County Board put its stamp of approval on it. The Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport is jointly owned by both the city and the county.
The terminal building has been named for a man who brought the modern airport to Rhinelander: Robert Heck.
43 years ago, Heck began working with federal state and local officials to upgrade the service at the airport.
Oneida County Board chair David Hintz said it was Bob Heck's efforts that kept air service in Rhinelander...
"...there are 24,000 people departing the Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport every year...that's about three times the population of Rhinelander leaves our airport on a commercial flight. I believe that airport would be extinct if not for Mr. Heck's efforts...to get that to work..."
Airport manager Joe Brauer said there would be no airport without Heck's efforts and detailed what it means to the Northwoods economy....
"....we figure it's about $30 million dollars a year in economic impact to Rhinelander and surrounding communities...."
Speaking to the Board, Heck says the airport has brought and maintained more than 1,200 jobs in the area...
"....the economic benefit to the area is over $450 million dollars since 1975 when I came on board. That's from airport consultants. Last but not least, over 2.5 million people since 1975 have flown into, and out of, Rhinelander..."
The naming of the terminal building for Heck also highlights John Heisman, the namesake of college football's Heisman Trophy who has a bust at the airport. For years, Heck attempted to put together an attraction in Rhinelander for Heisman. Heisman is buried buried in Grave D, Lot 11, Block 3 of the city-owned Forest Home Cemetery.
