Wlaf1450May marks the 60th anniversary of the Campbell County Airport
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- A grass air strip at Jacksboro Station was the precursor to the Campbell County Airport, constructed a stone’s throw north from that old strip. May 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of the Campbell County Airport located at Colonel Tommy C. Stiner Airfield, and you can’t mention the airport without bringing Bert Loupe, its manager, into the conversation. After all, Loupe has overseen the airport for most all of those 60 years.
WLAF’s Charlie Hutson shares more photos as well as a full account of the 1965 grand opening HERE.
“Conley Bowman leased that field, the grass strip, for his Piper Cub about where the Furtex building is (across from the county highway department). He had a barrel of aviation fuel, a stone building and a shed,” said Loupe, long time manager of the “new” airport.
Carl “Dope” Prater, Wheeler Hollingsworth, Harry Brown, Paul Harp, Jim Ed Stanifer and Sam Claiborne were all instrumental in bringing an airport to Campbell County. “They were visionaries,” said Loupe.
In the 1960s, the state was seeing that airports were built in about every county, according to Loupe. “Quentin Sowder was the county judge (county mayor) during those years,” said Loupe.
A contractor from Nashville won the bid to construct the Campbell County Airport, Loupe notes. “It was a one year project, and because of all the rock, it took two years. That company came in with new equipment and left with worn out equipment,” said Loupe.
The new airport opened in May 1965 with Harry Long as the attendant. “He’d open the airport Monday through Friday,” said Loupe. Conley Bowman’s brother-in-law, Adolph Schrader, succeeded Long as attendant, according to Loupe.
“In June 1966, an airport committee was assembled. That’s when Loupe, the young pilot, added airport manager to his resume’. “They hired me until they could find someone to do this long term, and they still haven’t found that person,” laughs Loupe.
Loupe recalls how the airport was booming in the 1970s. “It was all because of the coal industry,” said Loupe.
The hiring pay for Loupe was $165 a month. That’s a little more than $1,600 in today’s dollars. “What a fool I’ve been all these years,” says a laughing Loupe. He goes on to say that he’s had a good time running the airport. In addition to teaching some flying lessons along the way, Loupe’s also served as a corporate pilot.
Loupe’s first corporate gig was with Bill Sanders, Jr. and American Tent and Canvas followed by others. He flew for Sea Ray Boats for more than 20 years.
Federal dollars through grants with low percentage matches by the county have paid great dividends for the Campbell County Airport. “The first real major improvements to the airport came with a runway extension in 2003-2004. We went from 3,500 feet to 4,000,” said Loupe.
In 2006, the first set of eight hangars was constructed followed by 10 more in 2016. Grant dollars paid for the lions share of the hangars, and as a result, the airport generates more than $80,000 a year from its hangar rentals.
UT LIFESTAR became a tenant at the airport in 2014. “Campbell County’s first UT LIFESTAR patient transport was October 31, 2014,” said Loupe.
“As a senior at La Follette High School, I was already flying in 1963. A barnstormer from the 1920s, Guy Jones, taught me how to fly starting in 1962,” said Bert Loupe, who was named the Tennessee Airport Manager of the Year in 2017.
It’s worth noting, says Loupe, that the county only invested $25,000 (a little more than $250,000 in today’s dollars) for the airport. The total airport project was $500,000; all a Federal, State and County project. Here 60 years later, there’s no doubt, it was money well spent.
However, at the moment, Stiner Airfield is temporarily closed. A project constructing a new runway and ramp is underway.
The story below on Loupe being tabbed as the state’s airport manager of the year is courtesy of the State of Tennessee.
A NOTE FROM THE GRAND ON CENTRAL: “There is so much good going on in our community, and I want to share all this good with you every Monday here on WLAF in hopes that you will start your week in a grand way making each week a Grand Week,” said Olivia Lobertini, owner of The Grand on Central.
Below, take a visit through The Grand on Central.
For bookings, email Olivia Lobertini at ohlobertini03@gmail.com. Check on avails HERE.
(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-05/27/2025-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)