
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 15, 1990                   TAG: 9007150134
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: E6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CHRISTINA A. SAMUELS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FOR AIRPORT MEMORABILIA, AUCTION WAS PLACE TO BE

Kevin Murray is a man who knows what he wants, and what he wanted Saturday at an auction of surplus airport properties was the old Woodrum Airport sign.

And why not? The electric sign with blue foot-high letters harkens back to a time when an airport was more than a place to lose luggage - it was an oasis of rest and comfort to the weary traveler.

Murray bought the sign for five bucks.

The Moneta resident wanted the sign for his airplane hangar, which he has designed to resemble an airport of the 1930s.

The hangar has the tall, old-fashioned gas pumps that were used in airports 60 years ago and a switchboard purchased in Rocky Mount that Lily Tomlin would love - though neither item works.

Murray saw the ad for the auction in the newspaper and decided to look at the sign and other equipment for sale. The old airport was selling lockers, office desks, airport furniture and display cases at the auction, held in the old terminal building. Murray bought some lights and airport terminal chairs as well as the sign.

Murray, a mechanical engineer, is the president of Sky Dynamics Corp., which makes parts for stunt and jet airplanes. He moved to Moneta from Connecticut, preferring the slower-paced lifestyle.

Because he is the only maker of some special parts stunt airplanes need, customers have followed him to his Smith Mountain Lake retreat. Still, with only about 5,000 people in the world deeply interested in aerobatic flying, Murray said business has been "more enjoyable than profitable."

by CNB