Many people were honored during the Alva Area Chamber of Commerce Gala Monday evening, Jan. 23. The final award of the evening was for Citizen of the Year. Nominations were requested from the public, and Mayor Kelly Parker announced that Wayne Kinzie had been chosen for the honor.

Parker read information submitted by a local resident in the nomination. Wayne and Lynn Kinzie stared a business repairing bicycles and scooters in the 1960s. They began buying wrecked planes and helicopters that they rebuilt and repaired to sell. In December 1963 Lynn died in a helicopter crash, but Wayne continued the business.

Helicopters became Kinzie's specialty, and he secured a contract with Hughes Helicopters. He not only repaired the helicopters but also made his own parts that passed FAA standards.

In over 50 years of business, the Kinzies employed NWOSU students, about 500 in total. Many went on to be very successful in the aircraft industry. One former student stopped in on Christmas Day to thank Wayne. Ryan Powell said, "I am the man I am today because of what you have made me." He is a United Airlines No. 1 rated supervisor of mechanics at Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C.

While Wayne provided the mechanical genius, his wife Beverly ran the business office. The Kinzie children – Paul, Teresa, Mark and Timothy – worked through high school and college in the family business.

In the 1980s, Kinzie Industries added Plane Plastics, doing FAA tooling for all plastic parts used in helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. After 50 years, they retired and sold their business.

The Kinzies remain in Alva where they have continued to support flying including the regular breakfast fly-ins at the airport.

Wayne Kinzie was escorted by his wife Beverly and son Paul to accept his award. Wayne said what he most appreciated about his years in business were the students. He said people asked how he could manage to employ all those students. He replied that he'd rather have them "young and eager than old and pooped out."