KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
On Thursday the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly unanimously passed a resolution expressing support for renaming the state airport to be called the Benny Benson Kodiak State Airport. In addition to designing the Alaska Flag, Benny Benson spent much of his life in the aviation industry in Kodiak. Benson died in 1972 and 2013 marks the 100th anniversary of his birth. The idea to change the airport’s name originally came from Jay Barrett.
Barrett is also the news director at KMXT.
Because the airport is state-owned, the name change must be approved by the Alaska Legislature. With the assembly’s support, the matter will now head down to Juneau where Kodiak’s delegation will try to have it approved before the legislative session ends in April. Senator Gary Stevens is already proposing to change the name of the Akhiok airport, and renaming the Kodiak airport may be added to that bill.
