Lynn Devault addresses the Cleveland Municipal Airport Authority regarding her decision to resign after serving on the body for 10 years. Members of the panel and a number of aviation contractors and officials present at the meeting credited her as being the driving force behind the opening of the city's new airfield.CLEVELAND, Tenn. - After 10 years on the Cleveland Municipal Airport Authority, Lynn DeVault has moved on.
DeVault served many of those years as chairwoman of the airport panel, which oversaw efforts to replace Hardwick Field, Cleveland's old airport, with the Cleveland Regional Jetport, a state-of-the-art facility.
"It's been a great opportunity ... and I feel I've done my duty, which was to get the [jetport] doors open," she said.
On Friday, city officials and fellow panel members praised DeVault during her last meeting.
"[As] chairman of the authority, Lynn exercised tremendous leadership in bringing the jetport to fruition," Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland said. "Through her knowledge and hard work, we now have a beautiful, productive jetport to support our industries as well as bringing new economic development to the area."
In honor of her service, Rowland proclaimed Friday as "Lynn DeVault Day."
Lou Patten, current chairman of the airport authority, also thanked DeVault for her service.
"We wouldn't have had this airport if it wasn't for you," Patten said. "It's just an exciting time for Cleveland to look forward with this new jetport."
She didn't do it alone, DeVault said.
"It was a huge team effort," she said.
Also, there's plenty more work to do, said DeVault, citing future development of the facility, including a new hangar and a taxiway extension.
"The next 10 years will be just as full," she said.
In related business, contractor Steve Wright joined the airport authority to fill the vacancy left by DeVault.
He makes a great addition to the panel, said Rowland, who administered the oath of office to Wright.
Wright, who served on the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission, has "been in the fight with us since day one," Rowland said.
Wright Brothers Construction of Charleston, Tenn., which is owned by Steve and Robert Wright, handled excavation for the jetport project.
The company received an environmental excellence award from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association in May 2012 for its work on the project, which involved the relocation of a section of Tasso Lane and 4,000 feet of a large stream.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.