STEVE FITZHUGH, Ret. Lt. Col. USAF age 85 of Murfreesboro, died Wednesday August 5, 2009 at Centennial Hospital. Col. Fitzhugh was a native of Lancaster, TX, and was the son of the late Oscar and Mamie Fitzhugh. He was preceded in death by his wife, Anne Foote Fitzhugh who died in 2002, brother, Howard Fitzhugh, and sisters, Juanita Daniel and Evelyn Black. Funeral services will be 11:00AM Friday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel, Rev. Fred Hembree will officiate. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. He is survived by son and daughter- in-law, Mike and Janice Fitzhugh of Murfreesboro, daughter and son- in-law, Robbie and Mike Jones of Murfreesboro, eleven grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, sister- in-law, Mary Fitzhugh of Lancaster, TX, and nephew, Tom Daniel of Dallas, TX. Col. Fitzhugh was a man who affected world, national and Middle Tennessee aviation history, first as a pilot who helped develop and refine modern-day military wartime air deployment of troops and equipment pioneered at historic Sewart Air Force Base back in the 1940s and 1950s. He later served as the last commandant of Sewart Base before it closed in 1971-1972. Upon retirement from active military, the former aviator returned to civilian life as an administrator at Nashville International Airport. Starting in 1989, Col. Fitzhugh was a leader in helping return former Sewart Air Base from the Nashville Airport Authority to the newly-formed Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority in 1991. Col. Fitzhugh impacted world aviation, including as a pilot who flew The Hump in getting wartime relief supplies into China, recorded Smyrna Town Manager Mark ONeal. What he meant to the development of the present-day Smyrna Airport, cannot be expressed, for through his connections, he made the facility known globally, as a pilot, Air Force officer and later, as the civilian first executive director of present-day Smyrna Airport. U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon helped describe Col. Fitzhughs impact. Steve Fitzhugh was a visionary leader, who saw the potential of old Sewart Air Base when no one else did, noted the congressman. He impacted our community not only in terms of aviation, but in terms of good will and public service as a family man, Rotarian and civic/church leader. Hes a vital part of Middle Tennessee aviation history who has the distinction of serving as the last commandant of old Sewart Air Base, and as the first executive director of modern-day Smyrna Airport, added Gordon. Steve was an important part of my efforts back in the late 1980s to make Smyrna Airport once again a major hub of aviation economic activity. Current Smyrna Airport Executive Director John Black described another area of impact Col. Fitzhugh had on aviation history in Middle Tennessee and Rutherford County. Col. Fitzhugh was one of the pioneers who encouraged the Donelson/Hermitage Rotary Club to launch Tennessee Aviation Days that helped showcase Smyrna Airport to air travel enthusiasts and pilots from around the nation and globe, Black confirmed. Today, that historic air show is known as the Wings of Freedom Aviation Days sponsored by Smyrna Rotarians each Sept. 11 when we salute regional military heroes Col. Fitzhugh was a member of St. Marks United Methodist Church. He was a veteran of WWII, the Korean War, and was retired from the United States Air Force. He was also retired Acting Director of the Metropolitan Airport in Nashville and retired Director of the Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Brian Fitzhugh, Chad Phillips, Bo Jones, John Rodgers, and great grandsons, Johnny Rodgers, Cory and Eric Sorgenfrei. Visitation will be from 4:00PM to 8:00PM Thursday at WOODFIN MEMORIAL CHAPEL. www.woodfinchapel.com. 893-5151.