The City of Foley has renamed its municipal airport in honor of former Mayor Arthur Holk, recognizing his decades-long impact on aviation and the city’s development during more than 40 years of public service.

City officials dedicated Holk Field at Foley Municipal Airport during a ceremony Friday, Jan. 16, unveiling a new sign bearing the name. Members of Holk’s family attended the event, including his daughter, State Rep. Frances Holk-Jones.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the naming serves as a lasting tribute to Holk’s influence on Foley.

“He was so important for our city,” Hellmich said. “He served so many terms in city government. He was important to us and this naming of the field today is so important.”

According to a previous profile on Holk reported by GCM, Holk’s legacy in Foley spans generations. When he was born, his father was serving as the city’s fifth mayor. In 1952, Holk followed in his father’s footsteps when he was elected to the Foley City Council, where he served for 20 years until 1972. He later became Foley’s fifteenth mayor, holding office for five terms from 1976 until 1996, serving a total of 20 years as mayor.

Former Foley Police Chief James Miller, who served from 1994 to 2004, reflected on Holk’s influence during his funeral.

“Foley is what it is today because of Arthur Holk,” Miller said during the funeral. “Foley really didn’t take off until Arthur Holk became mayor, and then things began to change. He would fight for Foley, he loved Foley, he loved Alabama … He was a storyteller that no one could match, and I’m going to miss him.”

Holk passed away at the age of 95 on Saturday, March 13, 2021, after suffering a major stroke a few days prior.

In addition to his municipal leadership, Holk played a significant role in aviation at both the local and state levels. He had a lifelong passion for flying and served as chairman of the Alabama Aeronautics Bureau under three different governors.

“He always had a passion for aviation,” Holk-Jones said. “He was very proud that he had been chairman of the Alabama Aeronautics Bureau under three different governors, and he took great pride with all that was going on here in Foley and across the state. So this is a huge honor for us that the city, mayor and the entire council has done that.”

Holk’s enthusiasm for aviation began early. Holk-Jones recalled that her father purchased his first airplane before he earned his pilot’s license, a decision that initially surprised his wife.

“I remember my mother was at the beauty shop and found out Arthur had bought his first plane,” Holk-Jones said. “He had not told her yet, and he also didn't know how to fly, but he had bought the plane, and Mother was, shall I say, intrigued when she got home to discuss it with him.”

When Foley Municipal Airport opened in 1967, Holk was the first pilot to land an aircraft on the field. At the time, the runway was not paved, Hellmich said. Since then, the city has continued to improve the airport through Holk’s administration and those that followed.

Planned improvements at Holk Field include new hangars, expanded taxiways and drainage enhancements, city officials said.