Dennis F. Cantrell

The man for whom the Conway airport is named was born in Greenbrier, AR on 22 Jan 1908. He learned to fly in the early 30’s soloing in an Arkansas made Command-Aire. He became the Chief Aircraft Mechanic for Starnes Flying Service at the Conway Airport in 1940 for the duration of WWII. Cantrell formed Cantrell’s Aero Service in 1947 and became widely recognized as an incomparable expert in aircraft maintenance. He was recognized as the FAA’s first “FAA Mechanic of the Year” in 1962. Cantrell retired in 1986. On 27 Sept 1978, the City of Conway honored Cantrell by naming the Conway Airport “Dennis F. Cantrell Field” in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the development of aviation in the area. When Conway opened its new airport in 2015, it was named the “Dennis F. Cantrell Field”, as well. He died 1 Aug 2002.