TOM POBEREZNY

A graduate of Northwestern University, Tom Poberezny has won National and International Aerobatic Championships and performed at airshows while competing with Eagles Aerobatic Team. He was chairman of the EAA AirVenture Fly-In from 1977 to 2011, building it into the largest aviation event in the world and was President of EAA from 1989 to 2010. Tom was instrumental in Oshkosh becoming the year-round home for aviation with the development and construction of the EAA Aviation Center and World Class AirVenture Museum. He led the creation of the Young Eagles program, the most significant youth outreach program in aviation history. He retired from EAA in August 2011. Tom was inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame of Wisconsin in 1996 and was awarded the Distinguished Wisconsin Aviator Award in 2007.