Ohio native and aviation legend John Glenn took center stage today as Port Columbus was renamed the John Glenn Columbus International Airport. Though he walked with a cane and joked of being slowed by age, Glenn at 94 - he turns 95 in July - stood tall, spoke clearly and was the image of a legendary elder statesman.

John Glenn has been honored by presidents, portrayed in films and was the first American to orbit the Earth. Having Columbus' airport named for him, though, is an honor that is uniquely fitting for the former senator.

The legendary aviator and astronaut, 94, was celebrated at a ceremony on Tuesday marking the renaming of Port Columbus to John Glenn Columbus International Airport. The state bill changing the name was signed by Gov. John Kasich two weeks ago, and officially takes effect in September.

In addition to his world-famous career in aviation and aerospace, Glenn has had a relationship to the Columbus airport that is probably second to no one. Glenn, who turned 8 the month that Port Columbus opened in July 1929, recalled asking his parents to stop at the airport so he could watch the planes come and go when he was growing up in New Concord, 70 miles east of Columbus.

Glenn recalled "many teary departures and reunions" at the airport's original terminal on Fifth Avenue during his time as a military aviator during World War II. He and his wife Annie, who have been married 73 years, later kept a small Beechcraft plane at Lane Aviation on the airport grounds for many years, and he only gave up flying his own plane at age 90.

>> Photos: John Glenn's historic lifetime

Glenn is "a symbol of the possibilities of flying, an example of what unwavering Midwestern determination and dogged hard work can lead to and a testament to the spirit of adventure and accomplishment that our city, our region, our state and our airport embraces," said Susan Tomasky, chairwoman of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority.

Others who spoke at the airport, whose board is appointed by the city and county, included Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor; Ohio Senate President Keith Faber; House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger; Mayor Andrew J. Ginther; and Franklin County Commission President John O'Grady. Ohio's U.S. senators, Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman, spoke to the several hundred in attendance via recorded messages played on the giant video screen in the center of the ticketing lobby.

The first "John Glenn Columbus International Airport" sign was unveiled at the end of the ceremony above the giant new video screen in the center of the ticketing lobby, which also was used to show a short retrospective of Glenn's career.

Rosenberger recalled how Glenn invited him around the time he was appointed House speaker to his office at Ohio State University's John Glenn School of Public Affairs for what turned out to be an hour and a half visit. Rosenberger spearheaded the name-change effort at the suggestion of New Albany business leader and longtime airport board member Jack Kessler. Speaking before Tuesday's ceremony, Kessler said he had known Glenn for decades and felt it was fitting to name the airport for him in recognition of his accomplishments and strong ties to central Ohio.

The original proposal as presented in May to the airport board was to rename the airport simply John Glenn International. Central Ohio civic and business leaders who consulted with airport officials ended up backing the name John Glenn Columbus International to support "branding efforts" for the city, said Elaine Roberts, CEO of the airport authority, in an interview.

The airport is studying how and when the new name will be added everywhere "Port Columbus" appears around the airport, Roberts said.

Glenn told the crowd he accepted the honor "humbly and with great gratitude. ... It's quite a thing to have a big-city airport named after you." Though he looked and sounded remarkably well for a man set to turn 95 in July, he joked about the effects of old age. As he received a standing ovation after his speech, Glenn covered his mouth with his hand for a moment and appeared emotional as he looked toward his wife in the front row.

Speakers repeatedly called Glenn an inspiration to youth. Glenn himself said he hoped his story inspires young people to pursue their dreams and achieve even more in the fields of aviation and aerospace.

A sweet moment came as Rosenberger called out Josh Schick, who had come to see the ceremony at the airport with his grandmother and 4-year-old sister wearing an orange flight jumpsuit similar to what astronauts wear. The bespectacled Schick, who watched from just beyond a velvet rope cordoning off the ceremony, said afterward that he had written a report about Glenn as a second grader this past school year at Delaware's Cheshire Elementary School.

"There's going to be young kids flying into John Glenn airport," Rosenberger said. "Who knows, maybe one will be the next astronaut that will take us to Mars, or it will inspire them to serve our country."

mrose@dispatch.com

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