It’s not often that an individual receives a “lifetime achievement” award … in fact, it’s usually once in a lifetime.
At the age of 84, George C. Prill can declare not just one, but many lifetime achievements. Since 1992, he has served as a director of Air T Inc. which operates in two industry segments, providing air cargo services to the air express delivery industry through its subsidiaries, Mountain Air Cargo Inc. and CSA Air Inc., and aviation ground support and other specialized industrial equipment products and services through Global Ground Support LLC and Global Aviation Services LLC. With Air T Inc. he has also served as chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors from August 1982 until June 1983, and as president from August 1982 until 1984.
George was the editorial director for this publication, formerly known as GSE Today, from 1992 until 2001. From 1979 to 1990, he served as president of George C. Prill & Associates Inc., which performed consulting services for the aerospace and airline industry.
Going back even further and in yet another lifetime, George served as president of Lockheed International Company, as assistant administrator of the FAA and as a senior vice president of the National Aeronautic Association and chairman of the Aerospace Industry Trade Advisory Committee.
George can count himself among a special class across the country in 2008 who will be receiving a lifetime achievement award this year in any number of industries … beyond aviation. For example, American art director and production designer Robert F. Boyle, age 99, will receive the Honorary Academy Award during the 80th Academy Awards ceremony, in recognition of one of cinema’s great careers in art direction.
The 2008 Automotive Executive of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to 85-year-old industry legend Carroll Shelby, whose inspiration and vision have made him the force behind beloved automobiles, including the Cobra, Series 1, Ford GT40, Viper, Ford Shelby Mustangs and the Ford GT.
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners include bluegrass artist Earl Scruggs, Prill’s “colleague” at the same age of 84; composer, pianist and singer Burt Bacharach, age 79; and Doris Day, one of the most prolific actresses and singers who just turned 83.
But nowadays, a person need only live half a lifetime to win a lifetime achievement award. On behalf of the eBay community, President and CEO Meg Whitman, 49, accepted the Webby Lifetime Achievement award, honoring excellence on the Internet.
Renowned game designer and “father of computer gaming” Sid Meier, 53, will be honored with a lifetime achievement award at the 2008 Game Developers Choice Awards this year. Of particular interest to our industry, Sid created one of the very first combat flight simulators, F-15 Strike Eagle. After F-15 and by introducing strategy into flight simulation with F-19 Stealth Fighter, he created one of the most popular flight simulators ever.
Indeed there are many lifetime achievement awards, but in the GSE industry there is only one, of which George Prill is the first recipient. George, congratulations and I look forward to the honor of presenting you with this award at Aviation Industry Expo!
As always, thanks for reading!
