By Sam Chu Lin

Norman Mineta speaking at the airport ceremonies on Monday. Left: Mike Honda congratulates Mineta. Photo by Sam Chu Lin

Hundreds of people gathered at San Jose International Airport this past Monday to not only dedicate San Jose’s new $65 million airport runway, but also to hear a surprise announcement. After dignitaries, including Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta and Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif., etched their names in cement, Mayor Ron Gonzales told the large crowd, “I am pleased to announce today that I will be asking the San Jose City Council to rename our airport in honor of Norm Mineta.”

“You cannot imagine how proud I am to be standing before all of you, to have this airport to be named after — this son of San Jose,” Mineta responded.

Fighting back tears of joy, he began swinging his shoulders and continued, “It’s really — it makes me want to dance!”

Honda interjected, “It goes to prove you don’t always have to name a place after someone dies.”

The audience laughed and applauded. Then Mineta officially opened the runway by announcing to the control tower, “Runway three zero right is now open and ready for takeoff.” An air traffic controller responded, “American Airline’s Flight 151, cleared for take off.” Moments later a jetliner roared down the runway.

“Mr. Mineta has helped the people of San Jose for nearly four decades,” Gonzales said. “This is a fitting tribute at a fitting time.”

Henry Tang, chairman of the Committee of 100, based in New York City, also attended the dedication ceremonies. “It was very impressive to see something like this happen,” he said. “He has become the first Asian Pacific Islander American to have his name on an international airport, and that really says something.”

Emotions had been building with Mineta for days. During a noon luncheon appearance before the Airline Pilot’s Association in Washington, D.C. last week, which was televised nationally on C-Span, the organization’s president approached Mineta.

At the San Jose International Airport dedication, (left to right) Representative Mike Honda, Mayor Ron Gonzales, and Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta. Photo by Sam Chu Lin

“Congratulations are in order,” the executive said. “It’s my understanding San Jose is naming the airport after you. That’s great news!”

“Where did you hear that?” asked a startled Mineta.

The smiling association president responded, “When there’s good news like that, it literally flies across the country.”

Mineta was truly surprised. City officials had informed him of the plan to rename the airport only a half-hour before he made his speech in San Jose.

After hearing the news, Mineta quickly called his wife.

“He is so excited,” Deni Mineta said. “He’s like walking on water!”

Aviation has been an important part of Mineta’s life for a long time.

“When I was first on the City Council in San Jose, one of my duties was to be the liaison for the City Council to the Airport Commission. This is like coming full circle and having the hometown airport to be named after me.”

While serving on the San Jose City Council, Mineta helped to bring new commercial airline service into San Jose in 1967 and 1968. He continued that effort when he became the first Asian Pacific Islander American to be the mayor of a major American city. While serving in Congress, Mineta earned his pilot’s license. As chairman of Public Works and Transportation, Mineta wanted to find out what challenges airline pilots faced and often sat with the crew in the cockpit to hear their comments as he flew across the country. Furthermore, his son Stuart and stepson Bob Brantner are both commercial airline pilots.

After Mineta left Congress and moved to the private sector to work as senior vice-president with Lockheed Martin, he continued his association with aviation. He helped to reorganize the FAA and served on the boards of the Washington, D.C. area airports.

Because of that past record, many people in the airline industry felt Mineta was a top choice for Transportation Secretary.

With the dedication of the new runway, Mineta sees San Jose’s international airport growing in importance.

“American Airlines has San Jose- to-Tokyo flights and San Jose- to-Taipei flights,” he remarked in an interview last week. “The new runway that I help to dedicate is going to bring more business to the city.”

Mineta is still stunned by the dedication.

“You get a real sense of pride when your hometown community does something like this,” he said. “I’m really pleased and honored to have the airport with my name on it.”

He paused for a moment to think about his parents. During World War II, he and his family were sent to the internment camp at Heart Mountain, Wyoming. When they returned to San Jose, his father set up an insurance business. He followed in his father’s footsteps, then became active in city government.

“My parents would have been proud to have the Mineta name on the airport,” he said. “Unfortunately, my mother never saw me in political life at all. She passed away when she was 62. My dad saw me as mayor, but he never saw me as a member of Congress.”

At the airport ceremonies, he repeated those thoughts, saying, “I only wish my parents could have been here.”

Mineta, who served as Commerce Secretary for former President Clinton and now Transportation Secretary for President Bush, was the first APIA to become a cabinet member. Once the 11 member San Jose City Council officially votes on Mayor Gonzales’ recommendation, and approval is expected, Norman Mineta will become the first APIA to have his name on an international airport.

“That is a very significant honor,” he noted. “So I’m very, very proud to have my hometown airport with my name on it. There’s no question it’s a real honor.”