Lakefront Management Authority

Board of Commissioners Wilma Heaton, Chair

Eugene J. Green, Jr., Vice-Chair Thomas G. Fierke, Secretary

Roy Arrigo Stanley P. Brien

Sean M. Bruno, CPA Esmond F. Carr, III, PE

Stanley J. Cohn Leila Eames

Dawn E. Hebert Carla Major, PHR Pat Meadowcroft

Chris G. Morvant, PE, PTOE Anthony Wayne Richard

Bob Romero Robert Watters

Flowers by Villere’s Florists

Reception by Lakefront Management Authority

Hosted by Lakefront Management Airport Committee

Wilma Heaton, Chair Thomas G. Fierke, Vice Chair

Roy Arrigo Pat Meadowcroft

Louis Capo, CFE, CIA, Bruce Martin

LMA Executive Director LMA Airport Director

A Celebration of the Life of

Franklin J. P. Augustus

March 6, 1950 - August 16, 2019

Biography

Franklin J. P. Augustus, 69, died on August 16, 2019 in a plane crash near New Orleans

Lakefront Airport. The accident also took the life of his passenger, Nancy Parker, 53, WVUE-TV-

Fox 8 New Orleans news anchor, while filming a news story. He was the father of Brandi

(Walter) Ashley; Son of the late Annie Cooper Augustus and Henry Augustus; Brother of Henry

A. Augustus, Eric (Ellen) Augustus, Ronald (Patrice) Simeon, Mari Feutado and Bernadine (Abe)

Mackey; Nephew of Mabel Augustus; and Grandfather of Amaya and Walter Ashley. He is also

survived by a dear friend, Lea Young, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives

and friends who will cherish his memory.

Franklin was a beloved regular at Lakefront Airport where he often

brought children to open their world to one of his greatest passions—

aviation. He frequently visited schools to encourage students to aspire to

become pilots. Franklin was President of the Lake Charles Chapter of the

Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Partnering with The Drug Fighter, an organization

seeking to prevent substance abuse and youth violence, he dressed as a

superhero and tried to persuade kids to stay away from drugs.

Franklin grew up across from the old Magnolia public housing complex,

and said in an article several decades ago, “I want to let the young people

know that if I can make it, anybody can.” He was a life long community

activist who worked with young people in an effort to introduce them to

aviation.

Franklin had been flying since he was 19 and had gotten hooked on

aerobatics after taking advance flight instruction in 1978. He earned his

Private Pilot License in 1977, Commercial License in 1978 and Flight

Instructor Certificate in 1979. He described himself thirty years ago as

the world’s only black civilian air-show acrobatic pilot.

Franklin served in the United States Army from 1969-1973 and attended

North Carolina State University from 1970-1973.

Franklin’s varied professional career included: Drug Fighter® LLC;

President, Super Air Shows International, Inc.; Atlanta Air Shows & Stunts

International, Inc.; Owner, Franklin J.P. Augustus Detective Agency; WWL

Radio Air Traffic Watch; Department Head, New Orleans Department of

Recreation Martial Arts Division; Reserve Program Instructor,

Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office Flying Posse; Orleans Parish Sheriff’s

Office Board Of Directors SRDU; FAA Accident Prevention Counselor

(SW-FSDO-62); Movie Stuntman; and Chief Pilot and Director of Aviation,

GA Institute of Technology.

Franklin participated in numerous organizations, including the International Council of Air

Shows; Black Wings Pilot Association (Past President); Tuskegee Airman (Former Board Member

& LA. Chapter Vice President); Negro Airmen International; International Aerobatic Club, Cajun

Chapter #72 (Charter Member); Crescent City Aviators, Black Wings (Past President);

Experimental Aircraft Association, New Orleans and Slidell Chapters; and The Drug Fighter

Program (President/Founder).

The airshows in which he participated and his numerous aviation accomplishments will be well

remembered. Franklin was listed in Who’s Who Among Black Americans, was a Grand Master in

Martial Arts, and certified in SCUBA.

Program

Lakefront Airport 8-31-2019 Welcome Wilma Heaton

Prayer

Speakers:

Marlin N. Gusman, Orleans Parish Sheriff

Henry Augustus, Family Representative

Lea Young, Secretary/Treasurer,

Tuskegee Airmen Lake Charles

Eugene Green, Vice Chairman LMA

Paul Klein, Vice President,

Tuskegee Airmen Lake Charles

Mary Donahue, Former FAA Agent

Joe Bartels, President, Lakefront Hangar Association

C. J. Gallo, Pilot/Friend

Attendees invited to share a few words