WICHITA, Kan. — The Wichita Aero Club is creating a scholarship for college or post-graduate students in honor of former Cessna Public Relations Chief Dean Humphrey.
The scholarship is the second created by the WAC and targeted at students who aspire to a career in aviation.
The club’s other scholarship, named for former General Aviation Manufacturers Association President Edward W. Stimpson, also provides financial assistance to college students who have declared a major or established a career path for a broad range of disciplines within the aerospace industry.
“The Wichita Aero Club Dean Humphrey Scholarship will not only honor Dean’s memory but is designed to support students who wish to follow his example into communications, administrative or other non-technical roles in aviation-related organizations,” said Dave Franson, president of the Wichita Aero Club.
“Dean was an exceptional communicator…and a valued friend and mentor to me when I worked for him at Cessna in the 1970s,” Franson added. “He set the standard by which communicators in our industry were measured and it’s very gratifying to be able to honor his memory in this way. Our Education Committee will work with the Wichita Community Foundation to create the application and disseminate information on this award during the next few months and we will announce the first winner at the annual National Business Aviation Association Convention in October. Like the WAC’s Ed Stimpson scholarship, the initial Dean Humphrey award will provide $2,000 to the recipient. Our intention is to increase both the amount and frequency of both these scholarships as time goes on.”
Born in Topeka, Kansas, Humphrey graduated from Holton High School. His resume included serving as the Vice President of Public Relations for Cessna, and as spokesperson for King Radio before that. Earlier in his career, he earned rave reviews as a broadcaster on both radio and television for KCMO in Kansas City. Four years in the Air Force and a journalism degree from Kansas University also helped shape him.
When he retired from Cessna in 1993 he was honored with the National Business Aviation Association’s Order of the Silk Scarf, presented for significant contributions to general aviation.
For more information: WichitaAeroClub.org