The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 110

Airport road's itev-name flias hish a fitting tribute PHILIP McCOLLUM Staff Perry J. Hudson (right) talks to former airport commissioner George Berry at the dedication ceremony for Perry J. Hudson Parkway, newly renamed for the Hapeville civic leader. EXTRA CREDIT i 1 Hightower kicks off campaign Fulton County Commis- sioner Michael Hightower this-; week kicked off "We Care," a campaign aimed at address-, ing problems of pollution in i south Fulton County. "We're starting this paign to let people know that we care about how south Fulton he said.

Those who spot areas of concern may call' 7 730-TELL (730-8355). i Scout soars high. Boy Scout Adolpho "Rudy" Garcia of Fairburn has become an Eagle Scout, an honor achieved by only 2 percent of scouts. Rudy, 17, who joined Troop 237 in 1986, first joined a troop 12 years ago when his father was stationed with the Army in Wiesbaden, Germany. Since then, he has earned 18 scout badges.

A senior at Creekside High, he has earned a black belt in karate, is involved with -drama, Spanish, the 4-H Club and plays violin. He intends to join the Air Force after gradu-ation. Local students honored nationally. The United States Achievement Academy has, recognized the academic achievements of Janelle Paul, a student at Lovejoy High. The distinction renders her a Na-.

tional Honor Roll winner. Also recognized as a na- tional award winner was Ebo-ny S. Stevens, who attends Bear Creek Middle School in Fairburn. Ebony will appear in the academy's national yearbook. Janelle's parents are Fan-nie O'Neal and Glen Paul.

Ebony is the daughter of Jackie and Cornell Stevens. Playground Built at Red Oak. More than 80 volunteers from Fulton County government, Delta Air Lines, Georgia Tech and the Red Oak housing community teamed last weekend to build a combination park and playground at Red Oak. The park site is located at 4401 Campbell Drive in unifc corporated south Fulton. Youngsters who will use, the park designed the park's; focal point in the shape of a castle.

Richard Walton If you are going into, or out of, the airport in the Hapeville area, don't bother to look for the Loop Road, the fou-lane thoroughfare that zips people and cars around the Hartsfield area. The Loop Road in Hapeville isn't there anymore. It is now the Perry J. Hudson Parkway, and no road on our, side of town could be better named. AH my life I have heard the nariie Perry Hudson spoken with a certain awe.

For better than half a century he has played a leading role in just about everything good that has happened in Hapeville and the Tri-Cities area. He was one of the founders of South Fulton Hospital and served as a trustee for more than a decade. He was on the original board of trustees of the Atlanta Baptist College; a member of Clayton College Foundation; and first president of the Interfaith Airport Chaplaincy at Hartsfield. Mr. Hudson was serving one of his three terms as mayor of Hapeville in 1949 when the city established its first public library.

He served as a trustee of the Atlanta-Fulton public library system for almost 30 years. In his spare time, he put in four terms in the state Senate, 20 years on the Fulton County Board of Education and nine years on the World Congress Center Authority. Those are the highlights, not to mention presiding over the Lions Club and countless other civic projects. How did he find the time? "My wife says I was never home and never did anything around the house," he explains. "I'd like to think it was because of my flying schedule, which often gave me three off-days in a row." From 1940 until 1976, Mr.

Hudson flew for Eastern Airlines, starting out in DC-2s with no radar and winding up in Lock-head 101 Is with satellite guidance systems. For many of those years he was chief pilot for the airline. This is a sampling of support groups that meet in Clayton and Henry counties; Alcoholics Anonymous support group meets every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 8 p.m. at South Fulton Medical Center, 1170 Cleveland East Point. Fre Information: 669-4825.

AI-pion, a support group for relatives or friends of alcoholics, meets every Monday at 8.m. at South Fulton Medical Center, 117.Cleveland East Point. Free. Information: 669-4825. 1940, When Flight 21 carrying Capt.

Rickenbacker crashed in Morrow in February 1941, he had piloted the same route the night before. In his 70s and going strong, Perry Hudson may well be the most admired and respected citizen on the Southside. "A great man," said George Berry. "A real gentleman, whether you were flying with him or flying for him," says Alex Moye, a retired Eastern colleague. "He has done more for Hapeville than any other person," says Jody Brown, a childhood friend who has done quite a bit himself.

"Perry Hudson Parkway" has a good and lasting sound. Wqnt to reply to Jim Minter's column? Have an idea to pass along? You can write to him care of The Journal-Constitution, Fayette News Bureau, 692 N. Glynn Suite Fayetteville, Ca. 30214 There was no surprise when a goodly crowd of friends and neighbors, politicians and airport dignitaries showed up at the corner of Atlanta Avenue and the former Loop Road despite heavy clouds and threatening storms for the official renaming ceremony and "Perry Hudson Day." Glory days of Eastern Anything to do with Perry Hudson isn't likely to be postponed by weather. That's his heritage.

When he and Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker were at the helm of "The Great Silver Fleet," Eastern was the choice of travelers intent on getting where they were going, and on time. The saying was that "Eastern will fly when ducks won't," and Eastern would. "We were proud of that reputation," says Mr. Hudson.

"It was our heritage from the earliest Eastern pilots, who started out flying the mail." The mail always got through. On cue, as keynote speaker and former airport commissioner George Berry pointed out, the rain clouds parted into a patch of blue as the ceremony began. The background noise was appropriate, jetliners landing and taking off on their worldwide routes. Berry said the big jets sounded like music to 35,000 area families who depend on airport jobs. That is the tightrope Mr.

Hudson councilman, mayor, senator, aviation executive has walked throughout a career dating back to before World War II. Berry said that while the airline executive understood why Co-Anon, support group for husbands, wives, relatives or close friends of someone who is chemically dependent, meets every Friday at 8 p.m. at South Fulton Medical Center, 1170 Cleveland East Point. Free. Information: 669-4825.

Lupus support group, a support meeting for Lupus patients, families and friends, is held at 1 p.m. on the fourth Friday of each month at South Fulton Medical Center. Free. Information: 669-4825. AIDS support group meetings are held at ir ou If i and what once was Mountain View.

"This is hallowed ground," Mr. Hudson said as he rose to speak beside the roadway that now bears his name. He pointed in the direction of what used to be the corner of Oak and Forest, his old homestead. He recalled neighbors from streets that are no more. Inspired by pioneer pilots Growing up with Candler Field literally in his back yard, watching the old mail planes and pioneer pilots like Beeler Ble-vins, Doug Davis, Bonnie Rowe and Johnny Kytle put young Perry Hudson on the road to a career in aviation, although he did take time out for a chemistry degree from the University of Georgia.

Bishop Simpson, a famous Eastern mechanic, taught him to fly in 1937. He was hired by the airline in p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of each monthand at 2 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays at the Alzheimer's Day Center, 849 Battle Creek Road, Jonesboro. Information: 471-8380.

Back-care school meetings are 3 to 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at Southern Regional Medical Center. Learn the proper way to sit, lift and stand. Cost is $10. Information: 991-8070, Battered women support group, a Clayton County support group, is available to Hartsfield had to grow, and helped it do so, the mayor-senator-civic leader "never did a single thing not in the best interest of the people in Hapeville." "The airport has hurt the city," says Mr.

Hudson. "Some of our best and oldest families had to give up their homes, and that was painful. It had to be done, because since about 1935 the city of Atlanta has had legal authority to condemn land for the airport." This airport, more than anything else, fueled Atlanta's growth from a Birmingham-class Southern city into the Olympic world-class international address we now celebrate. Thousands of individuals and businesses that enjoy the benefits and convenience of an international airport while suffering none of the drawbacks owe a large debt to Hapeville, College Park, Morrow and Forest Park, SUPPORT GROUPS 7 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of each month at Infectious Diseases Associates, 6285 Don Hastings Drive, Suite River-dale.

Information: 991-1500. Grief support group meets for six week intervals at Southern Regional Medical Center in Riverdale. Information: 991-8399. Al-Anon support meetings are held at 8 p.m. every Tuesday at St.

Timothy's Lutheran Church, 5241 Ash St, Forest Park. Information: 366-3560 Alzheimer's support group meets at 7:30 is I We're About To Unveil Our Most Spectacular Golf Course Homesites. hi 1 LMJ help abused women. Information: 961-7233. Bereaved parents, parents who have lost a child, are invited to meet with Compassionate Friends, a self-help support proup.

Information: 296-7795. A breast feeding support group meets at i 7:30 p.m. in the Executive Dining Room at Henry General Hospital, 1 133 Eagle's Landing Parkway, Stockbridge. Free. Information: 389-2257.

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