A longtime leader in the local aviation died Wednesday; Russell W. “Russ” Meyer, Jr., was 93 years old.
In a decades-long career he played a role in expanding on Wichita’s label as “The Air Capital of the World"; Meyer served as the chairman and CEO and Chairman Emeritus of Cessna Aircraft Company.
Meyer oversaw the development and launches of Citation business jets. Among his many honors were a pair of Collier Trophies, the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy, and induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
Meyer had extensive experience with military service in the mid-1950s to early-1960s as a jet pilot in the U.S. Air Force and then a fighter pilot with the U.S. Marine Corps.
Meyer was born in Davenport, Iowa, and practiced aviation law from 1961 to 1966, after receiving a degree from Yale, and a degree from Harvard Law School. From there, he became the president and CEO of Grumman American Aviation Corporation from 1966 to 1974, the prior stop to Cessna.
Meyer stepped aside as Cessna chrairman 23 years ago.
Meyer is credited for founding the Special Olympics Airlift that for 40 years, transporting athletes to the Games; he also supported workforce development by starting Wichita’s 21st Street Training Program “to create career opportunities for underserved residents.”