According to past news accounts, ground was ceremonially broken in 1966 for Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport, with the cost estimated at $1.4 million and the plan being for half of the amount to come via a federal grant and the other half to be financed by Nash, Wilson and Edgecombe counties and the cities of Rocky Mount and Wilson.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony followed in 1970 and the airport began accommodating air charter operations and commercial service connections via Piedmont Airlines.

Hodges said that looking into a crystal ball, in 15 to 20 years, he would see a complex and an industrial park on the southeast side of the airport opposite the runway from N.C. 97.

“And I would see 8,000 to 10,000 new jobs in our area there,” Hodges said. “I would see a railroad spur coming out of the south side of Sharpsburg into the industrial park, with intermodal traffic supporting that future commerce. I would see a second large runway, even though our runway is capable of handling just about any jet out there currently.”