News

2019 Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame Inductee: 
Keith Mueller, GSLBAA Member
Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame

Keith Mueller is a flight instructor, mechanic and aviation educator. He has flown as a corporate pilot and served many hours as a flight instructor. Mueller began as a mechanic for Ozark Airline, which was later merged into Trans World Airlines and then finally became part of American Airlines. Mueller retired from American as Central Regional Manager for Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering in 2015.

Mueller was a flight instructor and Assistant Chief Flight Instructor with the Belleville Area College Aviation Program in the 1980s. He later became the part-time coordinator for that program until it was discontinued. Belleville Area College became Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) and Mueller, while still working at the airlines, became the part-time Aviation Program Coordinator for SWIC. He developed the Aviation Pilot Training Program, the Aviation Management Program and then the Aircraft Dispatcher Program.

In addition to Mueller’s significant accomplishments with the airlines and SWIC, he has a long history of volunteer service in the aviation community. He has promoted aviation to local school districts teachers and students in St. Clair, Madison, Randolph and Monroe counties. In 2017, he was a planner and participant for a STEM Aviation Day at MidAmerica Airport that was attended by over 200 local teachers. He is a member of EAA Chapter 64 and participates consistently in their Young Eagles program. He provides leadership in the Greater St. Louis Flight Instructor Association, and volunteers at the Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum. He is always a willing mentor to young adults interested in aviation. We salute you for your contributions to the aviation program at SWIC, your mentorship efforts and your devotion to the aviation community.

The Greater St. Louis Business Aviation Association is honored to receive the 2018 "Spirit of St. Louis Award" from the Greater St. Louis Flight Instructors Association.

Dorothy “Dar” Jane White
November 8, 1955 – April 15, 2019

Dorothy White, 63, passed away on Monday, April 15, 2019.  Beloved wife of Greg Kruse; loving mother of Jennifer (Christopher) Caldwell, Carrie Seeler, and Katie (Ross) Lindemann; treasured grandmother of Kyle (Kayla) Dyer, Courtney Caldwell, and Paige Lindemann; cherished great-grandmother of Kimberly and Kollyn; dear sister of Bill White and Robert (Wanda) White; dear sister-in-law of Daniel Libby, Mary Lou Omick, and Rich Kruse; dear aunt, cousin, and friend to many.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, William and Theodora White and her sister, Margie Libby.

Dorothy worked in private aviation for 30 years.  She sat on the board for the Greater St. Louis Business Aviation Association Educational Foundation, even serving as president for one year. In her spare time she enjoyed working in her garden and traveling back to her home state of New Jersey to see her “Jersey Girls”.  Dorothy’s pride and joy were her children and grandchildren and entertaining with all of them attending. She was a very caring person, with family stretching beyond blood;  Many of her friends became family.  Dorothy will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

SERVICES:  A memorial visitation will be held on Sunday, April 28, 2019, from 2 PM – 6 pm at Hutchens-Stygar Funeral & Cremation Center, 5987 Mid Rivers Mall Dr., (St. Charles) with a memorial service immediately following at 6 PM at Hutchens-Stygar.  In lieu of flowers memorial donations appreciated to Wings of Hope.

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