Cameron Airport reopens with history, air show

The Cameron Municipal Airport was all a buzz on Saturday morning.

The airport was reopened for use by the public with a ribbon cutting and air show with over 10 planes on display and an acrobatic performance by a 1940s-era plane.

Cameron resident Marion Brewer Travis was on hand to cut the ribbon along with dignitaries from Cameron and TxDOT Aviation.

Travis was the first woman to gain a pilot’s license in Cameron. She earned her license in 1945 at the urging of her father Sam Brewer.

“He was always fascinated by flying and loved it,” she said. 

“I was not that interested in flying, but my father wanted to fly ever since there was such a thing as flying,” she said. “So when this airport was built in 1944 he said let’s go take flying lessons because they were available.”

She began to learn to fly at age 16, but could not get a license until she was 17. 

She said she kept it and flew often until 1950 when she had children and decided it wouldn’t be a wise decision to continue.

“I felt it would be irresponsible to take that risk to just entertain myself with a child,” she said.

She said she would never be able to fly a plane today due to the advancements in equipment and technology.

Cameron Mayor Bill Harris thanked everyone for coming out for this big event for Cameron. He thanked TxDOT Aviation for their work upgrading the facilities and Eric Cobb for putting together the air show along with the members of the airport committee.

The airport runway reopened in February. 

The city and TXDOT Aviation worked for three years for a runway, lighting, and signage, electrical and PAPI system upgrade. 

The project was 90/10 percent grant match where the city contributed approximately $187,000 out of the General Fund to pay for the runway grant rehabilitation. 

The airport officially closed Oct. 26 for construction.