page two
fyfeomafJira/?
The most coveted award in aviation is appropriately accompanied by
big smiles. Here President Davis receives the traditional bronze Tony
Jannus plaque from the 1979 recipient, Jehangir R. D. Tata.
The 1970 Jannus Award winner, Daniel J. Haughton, called on Mrs. Davis
to help him present the blue ribboned Jannus medallion which Davis will
wear at future Jannus Awards ceremonies.
Company is highly honored when Davis is chosen
When President T. H. Davis became the
1980 Tony Jannus Award recipient he gracious
ly shared the high personal honor with his
family and his Company. In his acceptance
speech Davis attributed his success to many
employees ho started and, indeed, struggled
to bring Piedmont to where it is today.
This year’s “outstanding contributor
to scheduled air transportation” is the first
founder of a regional carrier to be chosen for
one of the most coveted honors in aviation. He
joins the world’s most elite group of aviation
leaders.
Robert Cutler, chairman of the Greater
Tampa Chamber’s Tony Jannus Award Com
mittee, said this year’s banquet at Host Inter
national Hotel in Tampa International Airport
“attracted a record number of internationally
known aviation figures.”
The 1980 award was presented to Davis by
J. R. D. Tata, founder and chairman of Air
India, who received the award last year. The
keynote speaker at the annual banquet was
Donald Nyrop, retired chairman of the board
of Northwest Airlines. Nyrop received the Jan
nus Award in 1978.
Since the award’s inception in 1964 the re
cipients include, in order,
SENATOR A. S. MIKE MONRONEY, who
led and spearheaded the drive to build U. S. air
lines into a world-wide network of soundly
planned, government regulated, privately-own
ed common carriers. Senator Monroney for
many years was the congressional fighter for
air transportation.
(Continued on page five)
Among the very special guests at the dinner
honoring Davis was Mrs. A. S. Mike Monroney,
wife of the late Senator who was the very first
Tony Jannus Award recipient. She was intro
duced by C. R. Smith, founder of American Air
lines, who received the same award in 1975.
At a casual gathering the night before the awards dinner, the past recip
ients posed with Davis and his favorite model airplane. From left, they are
Sir Frank Whittle, Donald W. Nyrop, Jehangir R. D. Tata, Davis, and Daniel
J. Haughton.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis shared the tremendous honor of receiving the Tony
Jannus Award with their family. They’re shown here with three of their
very proud girls, Nancy and Dootsie Davis at left and Wendy Davis Pierce
at right.
Davis’ name was added to the permanent Jannus Award,
a large circular trophy made of wood and bronze.
The impressive Jannus Award, which revolves in a glass case, is permanently lo
cated in the lobby of the Tampa International Airport.