Born: 02/24/1917
Died: 03/29/2003
Inducted: 10/19/1991
William J. Lotzer is a native of Fond du Lac,
Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin, Ripon College
and Marquette University Law School. He participated in high school
and college sports and was inducted into the Wisconsin Hockey Hall
of Fame in 1975.
Lotzer a U.S. Navy veteran has served as
State Commander of the Wisconsin Amvets. In 1947 he organized the
country's first Flying Amvets Post.
Following his discharge from the Navy in 1946 he
and Monte Obrecht started Gran-Aire Aviation at the Curtiss Wright,
now called Timmerman Airport, in Milwaukee. Upon returning home Lotzer was named the airport
manager, a position he held until 1973. Gran-Aire, Incorporated continues to offer flight
training, charter and aircraft maintenance. The county started airfield renovations in 1948
and completed the project in 1950. During that time Gran-Aire was
flying out of temporary facilities.
William's long list of credentials includes being
an FAA Pilot Examiner for 23 years and being president of four
aviation affiliated organizations: the Wisconsin Aviation Trades
Association, National Aviation Maintenance Council, National Air
Taxi Conference and the National Aviation Trades Association. He has
also served on many Wisconsin Aeronautics Commission Advisory
Committees and is listed in various aviation Who's Who publications.
Lotzer
was a strong supporter of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
and was instrumental in organizing the first Milwaukee Air Pageant
-- an early forerunner to the EAA's fly-in and convention. He also
served on the Ad Hoc Committee for the Lakeland Airport.
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