Warbird Information Exchange

From Galveston County The Dailey News


Director of Lone Star Flight Museum resigns

From staff reports
The Daily News

Published June 2, 2006

The Lone Star Flight Museum and Texas Aviation Hall of Fame said Thursday it had accepted the resignation of Ralph Royce, its president and chief executive officer since 1991.

Larry Gregory, vice president of the museum, will assume Royce’s duties while the latter serves as a consultant, the museum said.

“I cannot thank the volunteers and staff enough, for they have helped make this organization into the world-recognized collection of aircraft and aviation memorabilia that it is,” Royce said in a press release.

“I have had a wonderful ride, but I have been planning this for some time. There are a couple of things I want to try in the aviation and air-show worlds and now is a good time to try them.”

Robert L. Waltrip, founder and chairman emeritus of the museum, said Royce had played a crucial role in the museum’s development.

“Without Ralph’s strong leadership and the commitment of our board, supporters and volunteers, we would not have the world-class physical plant, the world-class aircraft collection and the world-class reputation we enjoy today,” he said.

The museum houses an award-winning, flying collection of more than 40 historically significant aircraft and is regarded as one of the premiere aviation museums in the country.

Both the museum and aviation hall of fame are at the Galveston International Airport at Scholes Field.
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Ralph good luck on your new adventures.
Robbie

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Fly Fast Make Noise!

Ralph was the driving force, but the private birds going up for sale and the loss of Ralph is going to se the Museum back. Tommy can handle the task, but this will hurt. Watch for more private birds to be up for sale.

Did Waltrip fly the planes himself, or was he more the "top dog" watching from the ground?

T J

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Make my day, punk!

Is this related to the sale of the airplanes???

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Don't touch my junk!!

There are always things that go on behind the scenes that the public will not be made aware of. That is the case with all organizations and museums. The facts have been stated about the sale of certain planes and management changes. Dont expect to find out the reasons why, especially here in a public forum. That just leads to speculation and rumor.
One thing is a constant, and that is change. Hopefully LSFM will do well in the future and the planes being sold will fall into good hands.

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Live to fly, Fly to live.....

Well said, Chuck.

Mister Waltrip has not flown anything himself for many many years- he was actually the man behind the scenes and the founder of the organization.

FYI- I have been informed by reliable sources (and confirmed this on the FAA Registry search) that, with the exception of Rick Sharps Skyraider and Huey, the airplanes currently for sale are the only remaining ones that are privately owned. I have been told that all of the other birds belong to the museum outright (or the Air Force) so that should be one less thing to worry about.


I also want to thank Chuck for his very down to earth observations- and I too agree that while I am sure this seems like a drastic change, knowing the managment team at the musuem they should do just fine in the years to come

Thanks
Steve

Its not Tommy, its his little brother Larry that is taking the reigns. Tommy has a full time job driving 727's with purple tails around the night skies.

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If God had wanted man to fly behind a flat motor, Pratt Whitney would've built one.