LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- In recognition and memory of Clifton Albert Moore, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) named its administration building today after the world-renown leader in civil aviation who served for 25 years as executive director of Los Angeles' vast four-airport system.
Nicknamed "Mr. Airport," Moore passed away in April 2002 at the age of 80 and may be best remembered for the construction of the present-day Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). He brought a two-runway airport surrounded by bean fields into the "Jet Age" during the early 1960s. He was also responsible for the around-the-clock, comprehensive remodeling of the airport with the addition of a new international terminal and a second level roadway, connecting the terminals in time to welcome the world to the 1984 Summer Olympics.
"His commitment to excellence and innovation can be seen everywhere we look at LAX today," said Kim Day, LAWA Executive Director, during the ceremony to officially name the "Clifton A. Moore Administration Building."
"And what better way to commemorate his contributions than to name in his honor, the very building that he spent countless hours in as he worked tirelessly to ensure that Los Angeles became the premier West Coast gateway?" she added.
Cheryl Petersen, president of the Board of Airport Commissioners, said, "This is a wonderful occasion to celebrate and honor the man who is truly responsible for the four-airport system we have today. He recognized the importance of an airport system to the City and the region and worked incredibly hard to develop not only LAX, but Palmdale, Ontario and Van Nuys as well, to ensure that all airports were prepared to meet the regions' demands for air passenger service."
Moore began his career with the airport as a building superintendent. He soon assumed additional duties as administrator for the construction of what would become LAX. Moore became deputy general manager of the Department of Airports in 1966 and advanced to executive director in 1968, in charge of all four airports. He retired from his post in 1993.
During his tenure, Moore was a member of -- and even helped form -- some of the world's most prestigious airport organizations. He served two terms as president of the International Civil Airports Association and president of the Airport Operators Council International in 1976-77, the predecessor of Airports Council International, the Geneva, Switzerland-headquartered organization representing the world's airports. He also served as director of the California Association of Airport Executives, which honored him as "Airport Manager of the Year" for 1981-82, and served on the State of California Commission on Aviation and Airports from 1987 to 1990. In 1985 he was named the first chief executive officer/secretary of the Southern California Regional Airport Authority. He also served on the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Task Force on Airport and Airspace Congestion, and was former chairman of the Airport Associations Coordinating Council, a policy-making body for international airport affairs.
On the domestic side, Moore served on numerous Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) task forces. In January 1975, he was awarded the FAA's Award for Extraordinary Service, the highest honor bestowed to men and women outside the federal agency, for his pioneering work in managing and mitigating airport noise between Los Angeles' airport facilities and their neighboring communities. He also received a special commendation from the FAA in 1985 for his contributions to international air transport.
Other awards include the William J. Cutbirth Memorial Award from the Hotel Sales & Marketing Association/Greater Los Angeles Chapter for outstanding contributions to the promotion of travel and tourism in the Los Angeles area in 1984. In 1986, he received the first annual USO General James H. (Jimmy) Doolittle Award for service to aviation and the encouragement of air travel and the Anti-Defamation League's Public Service Award. The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce presented him the Stanley T. Olafson Award in 1993, the chamber's highest honor for contributions to world trade.
Moore's memberships included the boards of directors of the Greater Los Angeles Visitors and Convention Bureau and the Foreign Trade Association of Southern California. He was a member of the National Aeronautics Association, the American Public Works Association, the International Business Roundtable at UCLA's John Anderson Graduate School of Management, the Southern California Aviation Advisory Board at USC and the Royal Commonwealth Society of Great Britain. He also served on Culver City's Board of Education from 1961 to 1967, twice as president.
Despite a round-the-clock schedule and frequent flights to all corners of the world as an ambassador for Los Angeles City, Moore found time to co-author, with Norman J. Ashford and Martin Stanton, a textbook on airport management, "Airport Operations" (John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1983).
Moore is survived by his wartime bride, Betty of Lancaster; a son, Steven of Fountain Valley; two daughters, Kerry of Oakhurst and Dale of Santa Monica; and six grandchildren.