Page 28 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2017

TOP LAW SCHOOL GRADUATE FOLLOWS IN DAD’S FOOTSTEPS
COASTNOTES
Funds needed for Mississippi Aviation
Heritage Museum
story by Susan Ruddiman
photos courtesy Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum
Mississippi has a rich aviation history, and a small group of volunteers wants to celebrate those achievements by establishing the Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum. They are members of the John C. Robinson Brown Condor Association. Last fall the association entered into a one year agreement with Gulfport to lease a 50,000-square-foot building on Pass Road near Hewes Avenue.
The former furniture store is ideal to hang airplanes from its open two-story area, according to Francisco Gonzalez, president of the association.
The museum displays will include:
• The Key Brothers who flew their single plane for 23
straight days over Meridian pioneering mid-air
refueling. Their record still stands.
• Fred Haise of Biloxi who was a Lunar Module pilot in
Apollo 13.
• Stu Roosa of Gulfport who was commander Module
pilot in Apollo 14.
• Celebration of Meridian and Keesler air bases.
The building needs about $200,000 worth of roof and air-
conditioning repairs before the lease with Gulfport can be extended past September. Gonzalez has been seeking labor and monetary donations.
“I’m looking for big donors who know this project is worth it. I know there are a lot of people who want to see this museum happen,” he said.
Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum
601.299.2816 Gonzaflex1@aol.com www.browncondorassociation.com Facebook page or gofundme.com
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster photo courtesy Abide Family
Abigail Abide, a student at the University of Mississippi School of Law, graduates this month and is ranked number one of 119 students. She graduates summa cum laude, meaning her overall grade point average is over 3.8.
“I grew up watching my father, Peter Abide, practice law on the Coast, and at a young age decided I wanted to be like him,” said Abide. “I’ve always enjoyed reading, writing, and analyzing. Getting to do that along with problem-solving is a dream career for me.”
After graduation, Abide will move to Hattiesburg to work as a clerk for the Honorable Keith Starrett, a federal district court judge. She will study for her Tennessee bar exam and also plans to take the Mississippi bar within the next year as she will practice law in both states following her clerkship.
“Abby has always been the type of person who sets her own goals and comes up with a plan to achieve them,” her mother, Judy Abide, said. “Her father and I are so proud of her for her accomplishments.”
28 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • May 2017
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