Family, friends and colleagues of the late Don Stevens gathered recently to honor the man who dedicated a great deal of time and resources to make the Cherokee County Regional Airport what it is today, according to a press release.

On July 12, the Cherokee County Airport Authority hosted a dedication ceremony to honor the former Chairman, who passed away in January. Roughly 50 people attended the ceremony including State Rep. Charlice Byrd who presented a copy of a resolution she sponsored honoring Stevens’ in the Georgia House of Representatives to his widow Lila Stevens, and Airport Authority Board Chairman Steve Mammen dedicated the airport’s executive conference room to be renamed in Steven’s honor.

Stevens, a retired Delta Airlines pilot, served on the Cherokee County Airport Authority for more than 20 years. During his tenure with the Airport Authority, he was instrumental in the development of the Airport Area Master Plan which brought significant expansion in the capabilities of the airport, including extending the runway to 6,000 feet, adding more hangar space and a new terminal building.

Stevens additionally served as chairman of the Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority, as board chairman for the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce in 1999 and was a volunteer firefighter. He is credited in helping to create the DUI Court, and in 2004, he was named First Citizen of Cherokee County by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce.