BUFFALO, Wyo. -- Lowell 'Wrong Way' Ferguson returned to Buffalo Saturday, this time aboard a plane that was scheduled to land there.
The Western Airlines pilot gained notoriety on July 31, 1979 when he landed a Boeing 727 at the Buffalo Airport, thinking he was landing in Sheridan, which was, and still is, another 35 miles north.
The nationally publicized mistake delighted the citizens of Buffalo who welcomed the fame the landing brought their community of 4,200 people.
Lowell Ferguson T-shirts abounded, a local poet celebrated the unscheduled landing in rhyme, titled, 'Lowell's Last Landing, or 'Whoa, Dammit, Whoa,'' and the town even renamed its annual celebration 'Lowell Ferguson Days,' which now is under way.
Ferguson, 46, did not attend last year's celebration under the advice of Western officials who did not find the incident amusing at all.
But he decided to come to this year's celebration because he believes he needs to keep his sense of humor.
Ferguson, this time a passenger, landed at Buffalo at 2:50 p.m. and was greeted by a crowd of over 500 and the Buffalo High School Marching Band.
'I think only the good Lord knows why my crew and I landed here,' Ferguson told the crowd referring to his 1979 landing, 'but it certainly has been a wonderful thing to us even though it had repercussions at the time.
'My wife and I are just overwhelmed by your generosity,' Ferguson said.
Ferguson was temporarily demoted because of his error, was sent back to flight school and is now fighting a temporary suspension of his pilot's license by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The pilot said he considered his demotion as the 'appropriate thing to do -- this was a serious mistake, and as the captain I was responsible.'
Ferguson will not be the only Lowell Ferguson in Buffalo during 'Lowell Ferguson Days,' which coincides this year with the town's Centennial celebration.
Fearful that the 'real' Ferguson would have again declined to attend the celebration named in his honor, the Chamber of Commerce invited any people who could prove their names were Lowell Ferguson to attend the festivities as guests of honor.
Five Lowell Fergusons from around the country accepted, and they all rode a fire engine together during Saturday's parade.
Following his reception at the airport, Ferguson, his wife and two children were escorted to the various events planned around the celebration.
Ferguson planned to participate in several of the events himself, including a softball game and a buffalo chip throwing contest.
