Clarence "Pappy" Vandeventer - WMU Aviation Hall of Honor Inductee
Published by Tom Thinnes on Fri, Feb 28, 2014
When looking at the experiences, accolades, and impact of Clarence Newton (Pappy) VanDeventer, it is hard not to be wowed. The man was immersed in aviation, his influence reaching far beyond the boundaries of Western Michigan University. Summing up her father, Cheryl VanDeventer said it best, “Keep in mind, my father was first and foremost a teacher, who just happened to have a lifelong love of anything to do with airplanes.”
“Pappy” VanDeventer will be honored by Western Michigan University, when he becomes the 13th member inducted into the College of Aviation’s Hall of Honor. VanDeventer served as an associate professor of transportation technology from 1955 until his retirement in 1975.
Transportation was destined to be in VanDeventer’s future, with the rich history of railroads established in his birthplace of Herrington, Kansas. However, as he grew up, his attention was directed towards two things: teaching and airplanes. Upon graduating in 1946 with his bachelor’s degree from Winona State Teacher's College, VanDeventer was committed to combining his avocation with his vocation. Prior to coming to Western Michigan University, he was a teacher and established the Aviation Department at Hammond Technical Vocational High School, in Hammond, Indiana. As his daughter stated, he had merged the two passions.
Throughout his life, VanDeventer was the proverbial busy beaver. While World War II raged in Europe and the Pacific, VanDeventer served as an instructor for the Army Air Force Cadet Training Program. During 1958, he earned his master’s degree from Purdue University. In addition, he was a licensed FAA commercial pilot, flight instructor, airframe and powerplant mechanic and served as the Dormitory Director for Henry Hall from 1960 – 1966, and Eldridge-Fox Halls from 1966 – 1968. He also acted as the student Aviation Advisor in the Transportation Technology Department from 1969 until he retired in 1975.
Throughout his tenure at Western Michigan University, VenDeventer helped establish programs and carry on traditions that live today. Not only did he serve as an advisor to WMU’s competitive flight team, the Sky Broncos, VanDeventer was also instrumental in establishing the Western Michigan University Pilot Training Program in 1956.
The impact of VanDeventer was also felt beyond the classroom and Western Michigan University. To assist students as they navigated the complex world of aviation, he established the C.N. VanDeventer Loan Fund for Students in Transportation Technology. Furthermore, in 1965 he authored the textbook used by the Armed Forces Institute, “Introduction to General Aeronautics,” with the 3rd revision being published in 1974. In addition, he was cited by the FAA in 1965 for outstanding contributions made to the aviation industry.
VanDeventer died July 15, 1993 in Lansing, Michigan. He will posthumously be inducted in Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation Hall of Honor on Friday, October 24, 2014 at the College of Aviation’s 75th Anniversary Gala.