AND THE WINNER IS……

Tom Wrobel!!!

Congratulations to Tom, this year’s winner of the Garmin aero 500 GPS.  Tom has purchased a Founder Cap every year since the campaign began.  This year Tom’s #21 was the lucky number.  The question remains – was he lucky or just patient?

Tom Wrobel was born and raised in Great Falls, Montana.  He started his aviation career washing airplanes at the airport in the early 50’s.  He then entered the Navy and completed Aviation Machinist’s Mates School in Memphis, Tennessee and Aircrew and Survival Training in San Diego, California.  For the next 22 years Tom flew as an air crewman in nine different types of naval aircraft including over 5000 hours as a Flight Engineer on WV-2 (EC121) Super Constellations.   In December 1976, while assigned as CAG-14 Maintenance Chief, he completed his fifth deployment to SE Asia.  With 9650 hours of flight time and 112 carrier landings, he retired as a Master Chief Aircraft Maintenance man (AFCM).

Tom currently works for the Department of Homeland Security as the Great Falls, Montana Site Manager supporting the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air Wing at Great Falls, Montana.  He is the President of EAA Chapter 1141 in Great Falls, Montana, has served for 10 years on the Aviation Organizations of Montana (AOM) Board, is a past member of the Great Falls Airport Board of Directors, and is a private pilot, A&P IA, and an EAA Tech Counselor.

And he plans to retire at 85! 

Tom says, “Happiness is a full panel in your pup”.

Submitted on March 21, 2012.