The Danville-Boyle County Airport was dedicated on October 5, 1934. Strategically located south of Danville and near the L&N railroad, the airport was originally known as Hi Richardson Airport and featured two grass runways.

In 1937, the Palm Beach company constructed a factory in Danville to produce men’s suits. As a token of thanks for locating the factory in Danville, local officials and businesses collected funds to donate to the Goodall Company (the parent company of Palm Beach); however, company officials kindly turned down the funds, suggesting the city instead use the money to invest in their new airport. Later that year, the airport was acquired by Danville and Boyle County and was renamed Goodall Field. The first hangar and administration building on the airfield were constructed in 1939 on the northwest corner of the airport and are still in use today.

Goodall Field was activated by the federal government on April 1, 1941. In 1943, Goodall Field became involved in the war effort through the Civilian Pilot Training Program, where civilian “cadets” would receive initial pilot training prior to entering military service. Approximately 1,800 cadets (who lived in the dorms at Centre College in Danville during their training) received flight instruction at Goodall Field in Piper Cubs and Aeronca Defenders. Another large hangar was constructed on the field to store these aircraft. That hangar is still in use today as well.

The airport flourished after the war with the influx of GI flight training and crop dusting. In 1956, actress Elizabeth Taylor arrived in Danville for the filming of the movie Raintree County via Goodall Field. Taylor was flown to Danville in a Beech Bonanza owned by Jerry Caldwell, father of current airport board chairman Rob Caldwell. In 1960, the Danville-Boyle County Airport Board was formed by a joint city and county resolution.