Cape Girardeau Airport Manager Randy Holdman will resign July 31 to take a position with Drury Southwest Inc. of Cape Girardeau, a commercial development company.

"It's a career-broadening opportunity for me, and an opportunity for me and my family to remain in Cape Girardeau," Holdman, a retired Air Force squadron commander and fighter pilot, said Friday. "At Drury Southwest I'll be involved in construction management and real estate development, and I'll also fly the corporate airplane as the company pilot."

Holdman said that when the Drury offer was made he realized he couldn't turn it down because it allows him to stay in Cape Girardeau.

"We've really enjoyed living in Cape the past 13 months," he said. "As you know, an Air Force family never stays in one place for more than a few years. We want to be able to stay in Cape and sink some roots."

Holdman, a native of Bonne Terre and a graduate of the Air Force Academy, was appointed airport manager June 1, 1993. He replaced Mark Seesing, who resigned to become operations manager for Cape Central Airways Inc., the fixed base operator at the airport.

Holdman said: "I'm very pleased that in a little over one year I have been able to raise the number of passenger boardings on Trans World Express flights in and out of Cape Girardeau 23 percent from last year. The national average is only 9 percent. So far this month, we are out-boarding the Marion, Ill., airport."

Holdman was also involved in opening of the new airport terminal building and restaurant; completion of a number of major projects, including a new parking lot; and continued efforts at attracting business development on airport property. He said an announcement of new business development involving the airport is expected soon.

"I will also continue to actively pursue contacts toward attracting another airline to the airport with connection to other cities in addition to St. Louis," he said.

Holdman said he has one regret: "I regret not being able to change the name of the airport. Instead of the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport, it should be called the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport because our airport really is a regional asset to Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois, and Western Kentucky."

Assistant City Manager Doug Leslie said a search for Holdman's replacement will begin soon. In the meantime, Leslie said the airport manager's secretary, Sandy Bloom, will handle day-to-day airport business. Andy Perry will take over airport operations. Perry, who assists Holdman, is an airport management intern working on his graduate degree in airport management.