Honored 1992
Born in Monte Vista on September 7, 1931, Entz farmed near Hooper, Colorado for most of his life. Lew had his first ride in a 40 HP J-2 Cub at the age of eight and immediately got the “flying bug”.
Lew served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War as an ordnance man for Marine Fighter Squadrons, and found what airpower was all about. When he returned to civilian life, he took flying lessons and soloed on January 25, 1956, at Monte Vista in a 1941 Taylorcraft. He received his private pilot license in 1966 and eventually owned a J-3 Cub and a Cessna T-210.
Lew Entz became involved in politics and public service as a county commissioner and as a member of the Alamosa Airport board for 14 years, resulting in the growth and improvement of the facility. He represented the San Luis Valley in the Colorado House of Representatives for 16 years from 1982-98 and then served as State Senator from 2001 to 2006.
In 1988 he sponsored the creation of the Office of Aviation and the Colorado Aeronautical Board. He introduced legislation which replaced aircraft registration fees with an offsetting increase in the fuel tax which is used to fund airports, airport improvements and safety projects. For this he received two awards from the Aircraft Owner and Pilots Association (AOPA), one of which was the Presidential Citation. In 1990, Lew helped remove undesirable parts of a bill to allow pilots to land on roads and highways, which removed the negative impact on farmers and ranchers. He also worked for the re-diversion of 3% fuel tax to aviation purposes which had previously gone to the general fund. This has resulted in the return of millions of dollars to be used exclusively for the state’s aviation development.
Do you have an interest or want to support general, commercial, or military aviation?