In the eyes of most Texans, Uvalde’s Garner Field Airport is best described as “locally unknown and internationally famous”. From its’ inception to the present day, Garner Field has quietly played a role in aviation history.
Created through the efforts of the Chamber of Commerce and the city of Uvalde and named after former Vice-President John Nance Garner, the 575 acre tract of land that is the Field was purchased, developed and activated in 1941 as an Army Air Corps Primary Flight Training School. A private flight training school, Hangar Six, Inc., provided the instruction with Army Air Corps officers serving in an administrative capacity. The first cadets reported for training in October of 1941 and by the time they had graduated the United States was officially at war against Japan, Germany and Italy.
Those first 50 cadets learned to fly in the Fairchild PT-19A Trainer. One of those early students was initiated into the Caterpillar Club when he had to “hit the silk” after he was accidentally thrown from a plane during training. Class size grew to as many as 360 cadets from all over the United States and 21 Latin-American countries and Turkey.
The social and economic impact that Garner Field had on the Uvalde area was immeasurable. And as a result, the great sadness caused by its’ closing in 1945 was understandable. But, this wasn’t just another flight training facility destined to sink in a sea of brown grass, this was Uvalde!
True to form, Uvaldeans rallied to the cause and Garner Field’s place in aviation history continued to develop.
Within a year of closing, the city had secured the runways, hangars, and the control tower, thereby insuring their maintenance and public access. The ten remaining one-story buildings became the campus for Southwest Texas Junior College. The Junior College was the first tri-county college district formed in Texas. When it opened in 1946, many of its’ first students were veterans and former Garner Field trainees. The school is one of only a few junior colleges that offers a two-year flight training program.
In the ensuing decades, Garner Field continued to improve facilities and lengthen the runway to keep pace with the technological advances of the ‘jet age’ and the traffic demands of the oil boom. When the boom went bust in the ’80s, the saga of Garner Field did not falter.
In 1984 Sierra Industries was formed and by 1986 they had purchased and relocated to Uvalde all the assets of Robertson Aircraft Corporation. General and corporate aircraft maintenance account for the bulk of the company’s business. The quality of work produced by the local labor pool soon had Sierra expanding and attracting support industries. In 1991 Jim Miller Aircraft Painting and South Star Aircraft Interiors moved into new, city-built hangars at Garner Field. This one-stop total service capability has helped all the airport tenants.
Working with the Texas Department of Commerce’s Texas Capital Fund Real Estate Development Loan Program, the city was able to build another 13,000 square foot hangar in 1992 to accommodate Sierra Industry’s continued growth.
One of the true golden events in Garner Field’s history came in the summer of 1991 when, with just six months notice, Uvalde was asked to host the 22nd World Soaring Championships. Though familiar with soaring competition, nothing could prepare the citizens for the impact hundreds of international sailplane enthusiasts would have on the community. After weeks of flying both in practice and in competition, and the gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded for three classes, Garner Field held another distinction; this had been the last Olympic-sanctioned event in which the former Soviet Union had participated as a team.
Proud of the past and with a focus on the future, Uvalde’s Garner Field may not be common knowledge in Mexia, but ask a pilot in Moscow, and he’ll show you exactly where it is on the map.
– Jim Link, Economic Development Consultant, Uvalde