HICKORY - City of Hickory officially named Terry Clark as the Hickory Regional Airport Director on January 5, 2007. Clark has served as Interim Airport Director since February 2006 when former Airport Director Tim Deike accepted a job in Virginia.

Clark has worked for the Hickory Regional Airport for 26 years and been involved in major projects and through many of the airports' transitional phases.

"It is an honor to be named the Airport Director at the Hickory Regional Airport and I look forward to serving the citizens of Hickory and the aviation community in this capacity," said Clark. "The Hickory Regional Airport has faced many challenges over the last several years and I look forward to working with the newly created Airport Advisory Board and the aviation community as we come up with ideas and solutions that will help us further the development of the airport."

Some of the major accomplishments that have occurred while Clark has worked for the airport include:

· Re-opening the control tower and the renovations of the tower.

· Renovation and construction of the airport terminal.

· Constructing a safety area on Runway 24.

· Constructing a safety area on Runway 6, which involved purchasing homes, and relocating a road.

· Pavement projects including Runway 6 and Runway 2/4.

· Assisted with planning the construction of Airport Fire Station 4.

· Assisted with the construction of the new Fixed Based Operator/Profile Aviation building.

"Terry has tremendous experience in the operations of the airport and has worked closely with the Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration and North Carolina Department of Transportation," said Assistant City Manager Tom Carr. "We have great confidence with his ability to work well with citizens, City management, City Council, private aviators, businesses, and the new Airport Advisory Board."