The Galesburg City Council approved a resolution in December 2024 naming the Galesburg Regional Airport in honor of Harrel W. Timmons, a local aviation leader and longtime community member. A dedication ceremony honoring Timmons will be held on Friday, September 5, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. at the airport during the Annual National Stearman Fly-in.
Timmons founded Jet Air Inc., the airport’s fixed-base operator (FBO), in 1969 and served as its president until his retirement in 2023. Under his leadership, the airport has thrived, serving a diverse group of recreational pilots, corporations, and businesses. Timmons was also instrumental in the airport’s recent upgrade by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to a regional airport, which opens the door for increased services and funding.
Not only has Timmons been instrumental in the airport’s success, but he also has a distinguished record as a pilot, holding an airline transport pilot certificate with over 20,000 flying hours. He is a certified aircraft mechanic, an FAA-designated pilot examiner, and an accomplished flight and ground instructor. Through his mentorship, he has helped countless employees advance their careers as pilots and mechanics for airlines and corporations. In recognition of his expertise, Timmons was inducted into the Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame in 2011.
The Galesburg Regional Airport is home to the National Stearman Fly-in, and Timmons has been a member of the National Stearman Board of Directors since its inception in 1971, as well as a member of the Stearman Foundation Board of Directors.
The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony, which will take place in the International Stearman Community Center at the newly named Harrel W. Timmons Galesburg Regional Airport at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, September 5, 2025.
***Courtesy of the City of Galesburg***
