On May 9, 2023, Marshall Upshaw, Columbus Airport Commissions longest working employee will retire after 45 years of service to the Columbus Airport. The Commission will dedicate an area in the terminal after Upshaw in honor of his service.

Upshaw began working at Columbus Airport on August 21, 1978, less than 10 years after the airport acquired the land at 3250 W. Britt David Road in August 1969 and Administration offices were located inside a hangar.

Upshaw began as a janitor and eventually moved into maintenance where he learned to operate tractors and mowers cutting the grass around the runways and landside. Upshaw saw the existing terminal building planned, constructed and erected attending the ribbon cutting ceremony in 1991 and again in 2021 when the same building completed a $20.8M renovation.

After moving to the landside of the airport Upshaw began training on sprinkler system maintenance, pruning, sod, maintenance on lawn equipment and other landscaping techniques attending Horticulture classes at CVCC in 2009.

Airport Director Amber Clark stated, “Marshall Upshaw has been an invaluable asset here at CSG his skill, technique and presence will be sorely missed. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors and a long and happy retirement. We thank him for his service to Columbus Airport,”

The airport is a public use airport in Columbus Georgia located at 3250 W. Britt David Road servicing the community with commercial airline and general aviation service.