Naming a perimeter road at 91原创 Regional Airport after a pioneer may not be everyone鈥檚 idea of an appropriate tribute, but if that pioneer is John Beales, it could not be more fitting.

His widow, Marge, their seven sons and one daughter gathered at the airport on Sept. 13, to unveil a sign on John Beales Way, which runs parallel to 56 Avenue and is reached via 213A Street.

A Lancaster bomber navigator during the war, Beales, the former Township mayor, was an aviation buff who earned his wings when he was in his 50s and held his licence for more than 20 years, his son, Bruce, said.

His father would have loved the tribute, his son added.

鈥淗e was a vocal champion of the airport,鈥� Bruce Beales said.

For many years, Beales ran a steel manufacturing business in Fernridge and later ran another enterprise, Double J Aviation, at the airport.

Beales served as a 91原创 school trustee, and in 1984 ran for mayor, missing election by a mere 50 votes.

He contested the mayor鈥檚 chair again in 1987 and 1990, winning on both occasions.

He died on June 30, 2003, at the age of 78.

Councillor Steve Ferguson was on council during Beales鈥� tenure.

Beales didn鈥檛 suffer fools gladly, Ferguson said.

鈥淛ohn did use the gavel 鈥� and I actually think he broke one or two.鈥�

Ferguson mentioned some oft-repeated remarks that Beales liked to make: 鈥�91原创 was a great place before the people came,鈥� and, to those opposing a development, 鈥淲hat field or farm was bulldozed to build your house while you oppose someone building another just across the street?鈥�

And a few others: 鈥淚 can鈥檛 believe we鈥檙e still discussing this,鈥� and 鈥淲hat a bunch of whiners and complainers.鈥�

Mayor Jack Froese paid tribute to Beales鈥� contributions to the airport, noting that it had become a 鈥�91原创enal鈥� enterprise.