Larry Byerly Passes
Larry Byerly
Larry B. Byerly, 74, passed away Thursday, March 24, 2011, from complications following a fall outside his condo in Maui, Hawaii.
Larry grew up in the family-owned aviation business, Byerly Aviation Inc., which his father, R. Millard Byerly, started on the old grass-strip Mount Hawley airport in Peoria, Illinois, more than 70 years ago. A graduate of the Northwestern University School of Business, Larry was a former president and co-owner of Byerly Aviation.
In 1953 Larry took his first flying lesson in an Aeronca Champ. He accumulated well over 10,000 hours of flight time in various aircraft types, and held an airline transport pilot rating.
A veteran of the United States Army, he was one of the founders, a past president, and a former board member of the Illinois Aviation Trades Association. He also was on the aviation advisory board at Southern Illinois University. In 2003, Larry Byerly was inducted into the Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame.
Funeral services were in early April in Peoria. Memorials may be made to Pets for Seniors, Box 64, Edwards, IL 61528 or to a scholarship that will be established in Larry's name at Southern Illinois University College of Aviation.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.thewiltonmortuary.com.
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