HARRISBURG – The access road to the DuBois Regional Airport is anticipated to have a ribbon-cutting ceremony in July, but when that happens, the tape will be cut on a roadway named for a man who was dedicated to helping the airport.
Gov. Edward G. Rendell signed Senate Bill 1206, sponsored by Senator Joe Scarnati, R-Cameron/Clearfield/Elk/Jefferson/McKean/Potter/Tioga/Warren, on Wednesday.
In the bill, the new access road, which will connect state Route 830 to Interstate 80 is to be called the “Francis H. ‘Bud’ Scherer Memorial Highway.”
Scherer became the airport manager in 1972 after a group of men approached him with an offer. His direction saw the addition of Beechwoods Flying service as the fixed-base operator. A new maintenance building and maintenance hangar were constructed during his tenure.
At that time, the airport employed 10 full-time pilots, eight mechanics and four radio shop employees.
Scherer also headed up fencing in the airport, extending the runway, and the acquisition of modern snow removal and fire-fighting equipment, among other things.
On the night of Scherer’s death Feb. 13, 1985, he had been meeting with representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and local business and community leaders to discuss better access to the airport.
That night, Scherer and co-pilot Jimmie Wade left DuBois for St. Marys to pick up a load of freight. The plane crashed on approach to St. Marys, killing both Scherer and Wade. The cause of the accident was never determined.
According to information from Scarnati’s office: “Bud’s vision of seeing the DuBois-Jefferson County Airport grow and prosper will be realized with the completion of the airport access road in the spring of 2007.”
The bill also named several other roadways:
— The portion of U.S. 6 in Linesville Borough, Crawford County, is designated as the “Gateway to the West” for westbound traffic and as the “Gateway to Pennsylvania” for eastbound traffic; and the portion of U.S. 6 in Matamoras Borough, Pike County, is designated as the “Gateway to the East” for eastbound traffic and the “Gateway to Pennsylvania” for westbound traffic.
— The bridge on Interstate 79 crossing U.S. Route 6N in Washington Township, Erie County, is designated the “Dr. Ray F. Birchard Memorial Bridge.”
— The section of State Route 4002 from PA Routes 8 and 62 to PA Route 417, known as “Front Street,” in the village of Rocky Grove, Borough of Sugarcreek, Venango County, is designated as the “Mayor John D. McClelland Honorary Highway.”
— State Route 255 from State Route 948 in Fox Township, Elk County, to the former St. Marys Borough line in Elk County is designated as the “William F. Renwick Memorial Highway.”
— State Route 263 in Hatboro Borough, Montgomery County, is designated as the “Roy W. Cornell Memorial Highway.”
— The portion of State Route 837 in the city limits of Clairton, Allegheny County, is renamed as the “Dominic P. Serapiglia Memorial Highway.”
