[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 89 (Friday, May 26, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1147]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          HONORING WES LUPIEN

                                 ______


                           HON. JACK METCALF

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 25, 1995
  Mr. METCALF. Mr. Speaker, on June 3, the people of Oak Harbor, WA, 
will honor the man who was instrumental in bringing commercial aviation 
to Whidbey Island by renaming Oak Harbor Airpark ``the Wes Lupien 
Airport.''
  Wes got out of the Navy in the early 1960's, bought a small grass 
airport outside Oak Harbor and founded a commuter airline service 
called Puget Sound Airways, which evolved into Harbor Airlines.
  Wes had the runway paved, put up buildings, and made the airport into 
a very good facility. He was very active in the community as president 
of the Rotary and an active member of the Navy League and chamber of 
commerce. Wes was also very involved from the start in a Washington 
State program to develop tourism.
  Tragically, Wes was stricken with Alzheimer's disease about 9 years 
ago while in his early fifties. It forced him to sell the airline and 
airport. Wes been out of aviation now for several years. His brave 
struggle with the disease was the subject of an HBO special ``Losing It 
All.''
  Thanks to the sound, financial groundwork laid by Wesley Lupien, 
Harbor Airlines still provides Whidbey Island with its main link to 
Seattle-Tacoma Airport and recently added daily flights to Olympia, the 
State's capital.
  It's the direct result of entrepreneurs like Wes that we have the 
strongest and most productive economy in the world. Wesley Lupien is 
living proof of the strength and perseverance of the American 
entrepreneur.


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