Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND003 - SHSND Foundation - Aviation Hall of Fame
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 00012
Title: Ronald P. Deck
Date: 2010
Creator:
Inscription/Marks:
Summary: Ron Deck of Hillsboro, North Dakota, grew up on a family farm near Harvey, found something he loved to do, and figured out a way to earn a living at it. While on a tour of duty in the Navy, Ron began taking flying lessons at a local airport. He earned his Private Pilot’s license, soon followed by his Commercial license and Instrument rating. He later added ratings as a Flight Instructor, Instrument, Multi-Engine Airplane, Helicopter, and Ground Instructor. Ron started Deck Flying Service in 1970 and has been active in aerial application ever since. Ron participated in many aspects of aviation, excelled, and enjoyed himself in all of them. His contributions to the local community, North Dakota, and across the country are many and varied, including his company, Sky Tractor Supply Company, LLC, which promoted GPS as an important technology in aerial application, and has provided employment for many people for 40 years. He introduced many into aviation through his flight instruction, mechanical training, sky diving flights, or as his employee. Ron flew planes, rebuilt planes and engines, providing the spark to encourage many of the people in aviation today. Ron’s company has developed a reputation as a national supplier of aerial application parts with good customer support and training, helping North Dakota to become a leader in new technologies. Ron’s successes have been featured in many publications, including National Geographic magazine. He was president of the Red River Valley Aerial Applicators Association before it merged with the state’s North Dakota Aerial Applicators Association. He was awarded the inaugural Outstanding Pesticide Applicator of the Year in 1991 by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. He served as president and on the board of directors for the National Aerial Applicators Association and was their first recipient of the Outstanding Aerial Applicators Award. He has been recognized by the NAAA numerous times, including the prestigious Falcon Award, the Allied Industry Individual Award, and the Outstanding Service Award. Ron attended and exhibited at the annual NAAA convention for 38 straight years. He supports local businesses, school events, the 4-H club, tractor and horse pulls, and the championship old pro softball team, the Sky Tractors. In the 1997 spring flood, Ron was asked to fly school teachers over the flooded Red River, saving them more than 100 miles driving around the flooded areas to get to work. In 2003, Ron was honored by the American Red Cross’ Everyday Heroes program, receiving the Good Samaritan Hero award after saving a neighbor’s farmhouse from fire by dropping a load of water from his airplane before the fire department arrived. Ron is a well-respected employer, a skilled aviator, an astute businessman, an inspiration to many who have had the privilege of knowing him, and the creator of the award-winning “Dakota Chili” in a fundraiser in 1995. The North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame thanks Ron for his contributions to the state of North Dakota and to aviation.
Red ID: FND_I_77361 Image ID: 509182 Image Notes: 10950 00003 00012

Collection: FND003 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - Aviation Hall of Fame
Date:

Summary: The North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame honors those in North Dakota aviation who brought exceptional recognition to themselves during their aviation careers. A 12-member committee of the North Dakota Aviation Council judges the merits of nominees based on: - Major achievements in aviation in North Dakota - - Significant contributions to the development of others in aviation in North Dakota - - Special service to the State of North Dakota in aviation activities - - Activities that bring credit to North Dakota aviation either nationally or internationally - - Significant contributions to the local community or the state of North Dakota that are not related to aviation (service clubs, church related, political action, etc.) -

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