NBAA Remembers Former President John H. Winant

John H. Winant, former National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) president and critical player in the evolution of business aviation, died of natural causes Jan. 13 at his home in Williamstown, Mass. He was 85.

“It would be difficult to overstate the importance of John Winant in the development of business aviation in the United States and around the world,” NBAA president Ed Bolen said. “John was respected and trusted by aviation professionals, company executives, cabinet secretaries and elected officials. His integrity, knowledge, dedication and gentle nature made him an extraordinarily effective advocate for our community.”

Winant was first elected to NBAA’s board of directors in 1957, when he was vice president of the Sprague Electric Co. While still a director, he was appointed as NBAA’s first full-time staff president in 1971, and he served in that capacity through his retirement in 1986 when the NBAA board gave him the title of president emeritus. Under Winant’s direction, NBAA grew from 824 member companies to almost 3000, and the association’s annual meeting and convention became one of aviation’s premier events in the world. In 1981, he was instrumental in bringing together other business aviation associations from around the world to form the International Business Aviation Council.

Winant authored two books on business aviation. "Keep Business Flying," a history of NBAA and the industry, was published in 1989, and "NBAA Works" was published in 2002.

During his career, Winant received many of aviation’s highest awards, including the Federal Aviation Administration’s Distinguished Service Award, PATCO’s President’s Award, Flight Safety Foundation’s Meritorious Service Award and National Aeronautical Association’s Elder Statesman Award. In 1977, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University awarded Winant the Gill Robb Wilson Award and later conferred on him the honorary degree of doctor of aviation management. The board room at NBAA headquarters in Washington, D.C., is named for Winant.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1923, Winant graduated from the Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J., and received his bachelor’s degree from Williams College.

During World War II, Winant served with the U.S. Marine Corps as an infantry platoon leader and earned the Bronze Star medal with combat “V” for hero service. During the Korean War, he served as captain in charge of the Marine Guard force at Indian Island near Hadlock, Wash.

Long active in the Protestant Episcopal Church, Winant served for four years as the senior warden of St. John’s Church in Washington, D.C., the historic parish known as the Church of Presidents.

Winant is survived by his wife, Kathryn, their two children, Peter Winant and Claudia Elliot, and their families, including five grandchildren. The family may be contacted at 963 Hancock Road, Williamstown, MA 01267-3019.

The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17 at:
St. John’s Church
35 Park St.
Williamstown, MA 01267
(413) 458-8144

A memorial service will be held in early spring at:
St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square
16th and H Streets, NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 347-8766

In lieu of flowers, the Winant family has asked that donations be made to one of the following:

Visiting Nurses Association and Hospice of Northern Berkshire
535 Curran Memorial Highway
North Adams, MA 01247
(413) 664-4536

North Adams Regional Hospital
71 Hospital Ave.
North Adams, MA 01247
(413) 664-5000

Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation
671 Cold Spring Road
Williamstown, MA 01267
(413) 458-2494
ruraland@wrlf.org

For more information, go to nbaa.org.