Established 1936 – John A. Collins, President

EMBASSY SUITES BY HILTON, GRAND RAPIDS DOWNTOWN

Big E's Sports Grille

710 Monroe Avenue NW, Grand Rapids

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2023   –  7:15 a.m.

From its beginnings in 1916, when the county bought the old fair grounds from the Agricultural Society, the airport serving the greater Grand Rapids area has grown. The opening of the first all-passenger airline in the nation and dedicated to the memory of Daniel Waters Cassard, killed in World War I. Known as Kent County Airport, it outgrew its location and after consideration, the current site was selected a few miles southeast of the city. Kent County Airport became Kent County International Airport, then in December 1999, it was renamed for Gerald R. Ford.

Alex Peric, the Chief Operating Officer of Gerald Ford International Airport (GFIA), will describe what the future holds for the airport and its amenities.

Invocation: Eric Nelson
Introduction: Paul Chardoul

Air Travel

1. A friend has bought an old aircraft, taken the wings off, and turned it into a restaurant next to the airport terminal. I don’t think that it will take off.
2. What’s the difference between an optimist and a pessimist? The optimist created the airplane; a pessimist created the seatbelts.
3. A vulture is boarding an airplane carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess says, “I’m sorry sir, there is only one carrion allowed per passenger.”