People / Spotlight on achievers : Executives Honor Late Airport Director

Roland Elder, the late director of Fullerton Airport, has been named Airport Manager of the Year by the Southwest chapter of the American Assn. of Airport Executives.

The posthumous award was presented to Elder’s widow, Annabel, and his daughter, Graceann. Association officials said they honored Elder for his commitment to general aviation and for his efforts to improve the airport’s operational safety and relations with the neighborhood.

In 1989, Elder was appointed director of the airport, the county’s last general aviation field. Before that, he worked as a flight manual writer for Northrop’s B-2 Stealth Bomber program.

A World War II combat veteran and later a Federal Aviation Administration accident prevention counselor, he was a decorated veteran who served more than 20 years in the Air Force. He retired in 1987 as a lieutenant colonel.

He was instrumental in creating the School of Aviation Research at Buena Park High School, designed for students interested in aviation-related careers. That program will begin this fall.

In 1993, Elder received a special citation from the national Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assn. for excellence in public service, city officials said. It was the first time in the group’s history that a citation had been presented to a municipal airport director.

Elder, who died of cancer in March, also did volunteer work with disabled veterans and former prisoners of war.