Retired Goodyear Executive to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award from Lighter-Than-Air Society

CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH, October 19, 2011

Tom Riley, retired director of airship operations at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 59th Annual Lighter-Than-Air Society's Annual Banquet, Silent Auction and Raffle, at 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Martin University Center on the campus of the University of Akron.
Riley, who retired in 2000, is a former airship pilot who spent five years flying Goodyear blimps in Europe and Australia before becoming the top blimp administrator for Goodyear. He is receiving the recognition for his years of contribution to the promotion of airship activities including 40 years as a member of the LTAS.
David A. Osterland, special lecturer at the University of Akron will introduce Riley. Keynote speaker for the event is Riley's former colleague Jim Maloney, who retired as Chief Pilot for Goodyear's Akron-based Spirit of Akron. Maloney, with a Ph.D. in engineering, teaches at Kent State Stark campus.
Included at the banquet are a silent auction and raffle, the proceeds of which will be directed to a fund established to continue the work of promoting the history and awareness of buoyant flight. The event is open to the public and tickets may be purchased by calling Sandy Bee Lynn at 330-658-4259 or via the LTAS website at http://www.blimpinfo.com.

Goldfinch Communications, Inc., is a public relations/media relations firm specializing in the global tire industry.