AMA news 2003/09

THE JOHN A. ZAIC Award is a new
annual award administered by the Academy
of Model Aeronautics. Frank Zaic created it
as the result of a donation to AMA by his
brother, John. When John died in 2002, he left
funds to Frank to recognize aeromodelers
who have contributed to the history of model
aviation.
As former AMA president and AMA
Executive Director, Frank asked me to
develop the criteria for the award and help
with the selection of recipients. He said that
the award was to be made in his brother’s
name and that of the late Lt. John W. Alden, a
pioneer in the establishment of AMA.
The criteria for the award are “recognition
of extraordinary contributions to the progress,
promotion, or preservation of aeromodeling in
the United States.”
Without the efforts of John W. Alden in
the 1930s and Frank Zaic, who produced the
first two issues of Model Aviation in 1936,
creation of AMA might have been delayed or
not even occurred. John, then working for the
National Aeronautic Association (NAA) in
Washington, D.C., believed strongly in
developing youth activities in aviation and the
need for an organization devoted to that end.
John and Frank enlisted the help of fullscale-
aviation and model-aviation
personalities to work with the NAA to create
a separate aeromodeling body within the
NAA framework of sport aviation interests
(ballooning, parachuting, racing, gliding, etc.).
Established in 1936, AMA’s first president
was Willis Brown.
Frank and John remained consultants and
advisors but let the new organization grow on
its own. They helped steer the organization on
the path to success. John died many years ago,
but Frank—now in his 80s—lives with his
wife Carmen near her family in Guatemala.
They moved there last fall from California for
health reasons.
The Fédération Aéronautique
Internationale’s (FAI) Committee for
International Aero Modeling (CIAM)
awarded the CIAM Gold Medal, FAI’s
highest award, to Frank in recognition of his
contributions to international aeromodeling.
Frank and John came to the United States
from Europe in the 1930s.
The first John A. Zaic Award was presented
April 4, 2003 at the Weak Signals Toledo
show in Ohio. Norman Rosenstock, AMA
Historian and chairperson of AMA’s Model
Aviation Hall of Fame Selection Committee,
received a beautiful plaque created by AMA
Headquarters staff and a check for $1,000 to
honor his volunteer service.
As AMA Historian, Norm has begun
compiling biographies of aeromodelers to
assure that those who have contributed to the
history of AMA and model aviation are
remembered. Norm, who lives in Royal Palm
Beach, Florida, with his wife Bella, has been
collecting and writing biographies for several
years. He has produced several hundred to
date on his own and the effort continues now
with the help of AMA Assistant Historian,
Stacey Shannon.
These biographies are intended to inspire
current and future aeromodelers to follow
what others have done to help AMA become
the greatest aeromodeling organization in the
world. The biographies confirm that what
others have done is appreciated and
remembered and they will hopefully inspire
similar achievements.
In addition to receiving the John A. Zaic
Memorial Award, Norm received the AMA
Fellowship Award on April 5. AMA president
Dave Brown presented the honor at the AMA
general membership meeting in Toledo.
The two awards are the icing on the cake
for Norm. His previous awards—going back
10 years—include AMA Hall of Fame, 1993;
AMA “Keeper of the Flame,” 1998; Howard
McEntee Memorial Medal (for technical RC
innovation), 2000; Vintage R/C Society R/C
Hall of Fame, 2000; AMA Museum’s
Historian Award, 2001; Palm Beach
Skyhawks (FL) Plaque and Life Membership,
2003.
These reflect a lifetime of dedication and
achievement. Norm’s own biography, too
extensive to cover here, details the
background behind the awards. Since 1932, as
an eight-year-old beginner in aeromodeling,
to the present, Norm has built a record of
achievement for himself and of service to
others. He is a fitting recipient of the first
annual John A. Zaic Memorial Award.
—John Worth
158
Byron LeRoy Godbersen, owner of Byron Originals, died May 11, at the age of 78.
He battled numerous health problems during the last few years.
Byron was the founder and CEO of Midwest Industries of Ida Grove, Iowa. He
started the company in 1954 to produce farm equipment. In 1959, Byron developed a
boat hoist, which moved the company more into the marine area and started the
Midwest ShoreStation equipment line.
Today Midwest Industries has more than 300 employees and 17 independently
owned distributors throughout the United States.
In 1979 Godbersen’s avocation of model flying became another company. Byron
Originals was started to develop large-scale Radio Control model airplanes. The
company produced its first kit in 1979 then started the Aviation Expo in 1981. The
Expo became known as “The World’s Most Unique Aviation Event” and drew more
than 50,000 modelers to Ida Grove. In 1991 the show was sold to a group based in
Ankeny, Iowa.
Byron received the Kiwanis Citizenship Award in 1973, the Governor’s Award, the
first-ever Albert Gallatin Award, and was named the 1973 Iowa and National Small
Businessman of the Year. In 1996 he was inducted into the Iowa Inventors’ Hall of
Fame. Byron, who holds patents on more than 50 inventions, was also named Inventor
of the Year. He was a financial contributor to Ida Grove including to the development
of the Ida Grove Airport.
Byron is survived by his wife, LaJune; a son, Bruce (wife Beverley), four daughters,
Beverly Corr, Susan Rusch (husband Don), Linda Harriman, and Debra Brosius
(husband Andy); 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a sister, Berniece
Pruehs; and a sister-in-law, Leone Godbersen.
AMA News
Academy of Model Aeronautics 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302
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See page 192
Byron LeRoy Godbersen
1925-2003
The Inaugural John A. Zaic Memorial Award
Dave Brown (R), president of AMA,
presented Norm Rosenstock with the
Fellowship Award, AMA’s highest honor.