Airport Terminal Dedicated to Santa Barbara Native Son

The Santa Barbara Airport is still being called the Santa Barbara Airport, but its terminal has a new name.

Santa Barbara and Goleta leaders dedicated the airport to the late John T. Rickard.

Mayor Helene Schneifer called Rickard a visionary.

Rickard’s five sons sat in the front row of the dedication ceremony Monday afternoon.

Dennis Rickard, the youngest, chocked up describing his father’s long list of accomplishments. He said his father worked hard to make sure oil platforms were not right off shore in local waters.

As Santa Barbara’s mayor, Rickard helped pave the way for the annexation of of much of the city land and the airport property that now serves 720,000 business and vacation travelers annually.

Rickard was also the great grandson of Don Jose de la Guerra, the last comandante of the Royal Presidio de Santa Barbara.

At age 34, he served as the youngest El President of what was to become known as Old Spanish Days.

He was also a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy during World War II.

Rickard was born in December 27, 2013 and died in 2000. Friends said it was fitting that the terminal was dedicated to him 100 years after his birth.