Local pilots and aviation buffs filled the terminal at Slidell Airport Tuesday as airport officials paid tribute to two men whose contributions helped the facility grow into a successful operation.

Peter D. Pravata and Perry Samrow were honored during a ceremony held in conjunction with National Aviation Day. The two men are the first inductees to the Slidell Airport Wall of Fame.

Pravata was the son of Italian immigrants who settled in Slidell near the turn of the 20th century.

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A self-taught accountant, he was a public servant for 45 years, and as World War II began to brew he wanted to do something to help the war effort.

He purchased 200 acres of land just west of Slidell, and after six months of clearing and construction, the Pravata Airpark opened. It later received its commercial license in 1948 and became headquarters of the Civil Air Patrol. Pravata served as warrant officer for the local squadron.

“There have been very few public commercial airports in the U.S. that operated due to the efforts of one individual,” said pilot Ed Haas, who presented a plaque to Pravata’s family members. “He had a great sense of adventure, and we were very lucky he shared it with us.”

Samrow, a lifelong Slidell resident, was a member of the 882nd Airborne unit during World War II. He got his private pilot’s license in 1947, and in the early 1960s became a flight instructor at a small airport on Dixie Ranch Road. Two years later he moved to the Slidell Airport, where he stayed on as flight instructor for 41 years.

“I thought I was going to be the next Red Baron, because I had Perry Samrow teach me to fly,” said chef Frank Davis, who presented Samrow with his plaque. “I just knew I was going to be a great fighter pilot, until the first time I had to go into a stall.”

A proclamation from Gov. Bobby Jindal marked the importance of the day, declaring Aug. 17 through 23 as Aviation Week. The document noted that Louisiana airports bring in $3.3 billion to the state’s economy and support over 56,500 jobs.

The industry is also important to the state in not only providing commercial passenger services, but emergency transportation, agricultural services, law enforcement, environmental protection, as well as search and rescue operations.

Slidell Airport Manager Sam Carver that the facility provides more than 100 jobs, and it served as the hub of operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

“People might think it’s all just rich playboys flying in and out here,” said Carver. “More than 70 percent of our business involves business travel, medical transport, community services or agricultural operations.”

The Slidell Airport is located at 62512 Airport Road. For more information, call 641-7590.