The City of Foley has recognized former Mayor Arthur Holk for his lasting contributions to aviation and the city’s growth by renaming the city airport Holk Field at Foley Municipal Airport.
City officials dedicated a new sign bearing the airport’s name during a ceremony held Friday, Jan. 16.
Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the designation honors Holk’s decades of service and his role in advancing Foley’s aviation facilities.
“He was so important to our city,” Hellmich said. “He served so many terms in city government, and his impact is still felt today. Naming the field in his honor is a meaningful way to recognize that legacy.”
Holk served on the Foley City Council from 1952 to 1972 and later served five terms as mayor from 1976 to 1996. He died in 2021.
Members of Holk’s family attended the dedication, including his daughter, State Rep. Frances Holk-Jones.
“He always had a passion for aviation,” Holk-Jones said. “He was very proud to have served as chairman of the Alabama Aeronautics Bureau under three different governors, and he took great pride in what was happening here in Foley and across the state. This is a tremendous honor for our family.”
Holk-Jones shared a family story reflecting her father’s enthusiasm for flying, recalling that he purchased his first airplane before earning his pilot’s license.
“I remember my mother finding out he had bought his first plane before he even knew how to fly,” she said. “It made for an interesting conversation at home.”
Holk was the first pilot to land an aircraft at the Foley airport when it opened in 1967. At the time, the runway was unpaved. Mayor Hellmich noted that the airport has continued to grow and improve through Holk’s leadership and subsequent administrations.
Future plans for Holk Field include construction of new hangars, expanded taxiways and drainage improvements to support continued growth at the airport.