Born: 06/03/1922
Died: 02/21/1988
Inducted: 10/28/1990
Husband, father, patriot, friend of aviation,
doer, modest -- these are just some of the words that describe Harry
R. Chaplin, Sr.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and was
trained as an aircraft mechanic. In 1943, while home on furlough, he
married Carol Betts. They are the parents of five children. After the war, Harry moved the family to his
hometown of Plymouth, Wisconsin. Shortly thereafter, on a grass
runway located on the family farm, he started Chaplin Services, Inc.
Early struggles to develop an aviation business
helped Harry to become a highly respected aviation businessman. He
worked arduously to improve aviation business practices and devoted
many uncounted hours toward the development of good, sensible and
fair legislation for the industry.
Harry was instrumental in the development of five
airports -- Chaplin Airport (1946), Waupaca Municipal (1949),
Sheboygan County Memorial (1960), Manitowoc County (1969) and
Baraboo - Dells (1970).
Harry
was a member of the American Legion and had served on the National
Security Commission and the Aerospace Committee. He was not just a
"joiner" but a "doer". He belonged to numerous
organizations and assumed an active role in all of them. Harry had
the unique experience to serve some of our governors in aviation
positions. In 1965, Governor Knowles appointed him to the state
Aeronautics Commission. When that body disbanded he served as the
first chairman on the Wisconsin Council of Aviation. He was
reappointed to this board by Governors Lucy and Schreiber. Harry
served a total of 18 years on these two groups.
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Harry R Chaplin, US Army, December
1942
(Photo courtesy Chaplin family)
The Harry Chaplin family, 1951
(Photo courtesy Chaplin family)
Harry at his Sheboygan County Airport
office
(Photo courtesy Chaplin family)
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