CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Citing a “difficult and challenging” four-month period, longtime Yeager Airport Executive Director Rick Atkinson announced his retirement Saturday. It takes effect Monday.
A massive man-made runway overrun area at Yeager collapsed March 12 destroying several buildings below including a church on Keystone Drive near Charleston. Atkinson, the director at the state’s busiest airport for the past 16 years, said the disaster was the key reason for his decision.
“There were quite a few challenges and it was very trying and taxing on me,” Atkinson told MetroNews on Sunday.
Atkinson’s statement to the airport board was released Saturday evening:
“The unfortunate events of March 12th have required me to act in a capacity I would have never anticipated at the beginning of my tenure at the airport. From helping to find housing for people, to assisting a church community to locate a new worship space, to negotiating with residents to purchase their homes, I have never before felt the responsibilities of my position so heavily,” Atkinson said.
Atkinson linked the timing of his announcement to a decision made Friday by Kanawha County Circuit Judge Joanna Tabit. The judge approved the deconstruction and repair of the overrun area. Work is scheduled to begin Monday.
“I just think that it’s a good opportunity to have a different perspective. There needs to be a fresh energy for the challenges ahead,” Atkinson said. “I am at a good point where I have invested and can retire. It’s just a good time to do it.”
“The timing of this announcement will allow the board to take whatever action it deems appropriate at the regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, July 22nd to bring new leadership to the next stage of the mitigation and reconstruction project,” his statement said.
Atkinson had previously told the airport board chair Ed Hill he planned to step down in October but ultimately decided the timing was better now.
“I know the past four months have been incredibly challenging and difficult for Rick,” Hill said. “We appreciate everything he’s done to relocate the families and residents in the areas affected by the failure of the mechanically stabilized earth retention structure while ensuring that air service operations continued normally.”
The Yeager personnel committee will meet Monday afternoon to choose an interim director that it will recommend to the full board at Wednesday’s meeting. Assistant Director Terry Sayre will be in charge until then.