June 30, 1950 – The formal dedication of
Merrill C. Meigs field takes place on the lakefront. Although the airport has been open since
December 10, 1948, it carried no name.
Speaking from prepared notes, Meigs, who had served as the head of the
city’s Aero Commission, said, “When my name was brought up last year before the
city council, there were objections that no airport should be named for a
living person. I was honored at the
original suggestion but felt that the sacrifice involved—in order to
qualify—was too great a price, even for that glory.” [Chicago Daily Tribune, July 1, 1950] Special
guests were drawn from 30 states—the Flying Farmers of Prairieland and the
National Flying Farmers. It is estimated
that 890 of their planes, carrying 2,047 persons, landed at Chicago area
airports.
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