I had known Gibson Berry since I was a teenager and when I learned to fly in the mid 80’s, I again acquainted myself with Gibson which meant visiting Shade Tree. I was looking for my first airplane and Gibson had a nice 172 for sale. The airplane was flown to Gulfport for a pre-buy inspection and a few engine issues were discovered. I offered to fly the airplane back to Shade Tree which was my first landing at a grass airport since getting my private months earlier. From that moment on, I was a regular at Shade Tree.

     I did not buy the 172 but instead, found a Cardinal which I purchased and moved to Shade Tree when the first Gulf War broke out in the early 1990’s. Security at Gulfport Airport was increased the FBO manager, he had a secretary call the customers and tell them that “hanging out” at Gulfport Airport FBO would no longer be allowed. We were told that we would be escorted to and from our airplane when flying in and out of the Gulfport FBO. I called Gibson and asked if I could tie down at Shade Tree on a permanent basis. Gibson was delighted to accept us as a new customer at Shade Tree. My next telephone call was to Gulfport’s FBO manager and request a one and only, final escort to my airplane tied on the ramp. I left and never returned to GPT for an overnight stay.

     After a year or so of tying out on the flight line, I asked Gibson if I could pour a cement pad between the T-Hanger (now Kinney’s hanger, and the next to last hanger on the north side. He agreed and we poured a pad to park the Cardinal on which is now Bert’s extra tie down. When I heard that a hanger (now Bert’s hanger) would be vacated by a customer teaching multi-engine in a Piper Apache, I requested first dibs. I moved into the hanger, added an extension and remained there for 8 years. We hangered the Cardinal, then added an Aeronca Champ, traded the Cardinal for a 182, then traded for a Bonanza. Only after buying the property where I now reside and built MS 27, (with a lot of financial help from my Dad, Henry) did we move from Shade Tree.

     I looked again at the photos from my Dad’s scrap book and enjoyed the memories. As you know, Henry passed away January 17th, 2010 but I bet that some of his last thoughts were of the fun and work we enjoyed at Shade Tree over the years. I appreciate the photo area on the webpage which show Dad and his wonderful memories of Shade Tree. Thanks for your hard work building and maintaining such a wonderful site.