Wilson involved since the beginning of AFAD

Dean Wilson, who helped create today's Air Force Appreciation, shows off a photo of himself during his first year as AFAD chairman.

September 1960 in Mountain Home...

Vice President Richard Nixon stops in Boise in his bid to win the White House over Democratic contender John F. Kennedy...

City officials attend a ground breaking ceremony for the Idaho 1st National Bank...

Nearly 3,000 students enroll in the Mountain Home School District...

West Elementary School opens, prompting the school district to hire 125 additional teachers...

And the city pauses to honor the men and women of Mountain Home Air Force Base in what would eventually become known as Air Force Appreciation Day.

Over the past 49 years, Dean Wilson watched interest in the annual military celebration grow into a full day of food and entertainment as business owners devoted the first Saturday after Labor Day to show their appreciation for those who serve their nation.

"We've always liked bragged that we've got the tightest community in the country with an airbase," said Wilson, a Korean War veteran who owned La Mode Cleaners for many years. "We accept the GIs as part of the town. We always have and I hope we always will."

See the Mountain Home News for the complete story.