Modeler since 1961 Birth Date: July 1, 1955 AMA Number: 67283
Information submitted by RAB (3/2003); Written & Edited by SS (3/2003)
Career
- 1963: Formed his first club, a Cox U-Control club, and served as all club officers
- 1986 - [c. 2003]: Served as an AMA District VI Associate Vice President for at least 17 years
- Directed various local contests and mall shows
- 1980s: Taught 4-H modeling and rocketry
- 1990-1991: Taught a Delta Dart class at his local Boys and Girls Club
- Manager of the Spirit of America Air Show for two years and pilot for five
- 1989 – [c.2003]: Has been a full-scale instrument pilot for 14 years
The Beginning
Ron started modeling at the tender age of six after his family moved to a new house located next to a grass strip airport the year before. Two years later, in 1963 he joined his first club, the Propbusters, in Decatur, Indiana. He remained a club member for three years. His first airplane was a Comet rubber-powered model his father helped him build from a kit. For Ron the hardest part was waiting for the glue to dry, but he really enjoyed being able to spend time with his father.
Three years later, at age nine, Ron borrowed $200 from his sister to buy his first radio for his first Radio Controlled (RC) model, the Mambo. The Mambo had a Veco .19. He was able to pay her back $5 a week by mowing yards.
Leadership
Ron formed his first club in 1963. The club had six members with all Cox U-Control models. Ron served as all officers until 1966.
In his adult years, Ron continued his leadership role in the AMA. For the last 17 years, Ron has served as an AMA District VI associate vice president. He also directed various contests including quarter scale and fun-flys locally. Ron has also directed mall shows. Ron also got slightly involved with the hobby industry just a bit to help fund his hobby. In the 1980s, he bought surplus items from hobby shops and resold them at swap shops.
Education
Since the early 1980s, Ron has also been involved with teaching and promoting the hobby. From 1983 to 1986, he taught a 4-H rocketry class and judged models in Van Wert, Ohio. He spent 16 years judging rockets at five county 4-H fairs each year. Then from 1990 to 1991, Ron taught a Delta Dart program at the Boys and Girls Club in Adams County.
Overall, Ron has taught more than 150 individuals to fly RC. He was the manager of the Spirit of America Air Show team during 1988 and 1989. Ron holds a private pilot license with an instrument rating, which he obtained in 1989.
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