March 2008 175
I BEGAN writing this on Christmas Day, so
that tells you what the lead time is to get
something into the magazine.
I am already firming up my schedule for the
New Year and encourage everyone to invite
your local associate vice presidents (AVPs)
and me to your events. We get a kick out of
attending the events and we get a real feel
for the pulse of the membership.
Modelers flying and having a ball are a
better barometer than any Web site, E-mail,
or blog entry. I have met so many new
friends in my first year on the Executive
Council and I thank you for making me feel
at home and welcome at your events.
The final Sport 40 Pylon Race in central/
south Texas was held in November at the
San Antonio Prop Busters field. I went to
observe but was called into action as the
starter.
Participation was down slightly from
previous events but the competition was
keen. Chuck Waller (District VIII Safety
Coordinator) came out of the B main to eek
out a win at the finish line over Jim Agnew.
Good racing and a lot of fun for the
participants!
Check out this type of racing in your
local area; you might be the next champion.
Chuck is in the middle with his airplane
above his head and I am to his right with the
checkered flag.
Continuing with my report on volunteers in
the district, this month it is Ron Stanfield.
Ron was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and
started building rubber-powered models at
age 10. His first engine was an Ohlsson &
Rice .23 on a CL aircraft at age 14.
He served
20 years in
the Navy,
retiring as a
Lieutenant
Commander
in 1977.
During that
time he flew
mostly CL.
His first
RC model
was a Falcon
56 with a Bonner radio in 1969. He has now
built more than 190 RC airplanes and has
RC, CL, and FF models ready to fly with
electric, gas, CO2, and rubber. His hangar
includes 10 indoor models.
Ron holds bachelor degrees in math,
chemistry, and computer science. He is the
AVP for Arkansas and is an active CD.
Thanks for your great volunteer service
to District VIII and the AMA, Ron!
Don’t forget to visit the District VIII Web
site and see the posts from around the
district and the galleries by Steve Koelle:
www.ama-dist-8.org.
Have Fun and Fly Safely! See you on the
flightline. Jim
Jim Rice
Vice President
118 E. Wright Blvd.,
Universal City TX 78148
Tel.: (210) 213-0299
(evenings)
www.AMA-Dist-8.org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Lester L. Barry, Bethany OK;
(405) 789-5373
Bill Fulmer, Gretna LA;
(504) 392-3620
Jack Hogan, Chandler TX;
(903) 849-4193 (Evenings)
Mark S. Johnston, Albuquerque
NM; (505) 823-0158
Jim D. Marshall, Mission TX;
(956) 585-6446
Douglas E. Powell, Wichita Falls
TX; (940) 691-8348
Doug Staines, Belton TX
(254) 780-3512
Ron Stanfield, Maumelle AR;
(501) 851-1697
Pat Willcox, Kingwood TX;
(713) 358-1750
Frequency Coordinator
North: Joe DuMond, Ft. Worth
TX; (817) 457-6685
South: Gene Kent, Tomball TX;
(281) 255-4805
AMA Display Coordinator
David Johns, Deer Park TX
(713) 476-4820
Safety Coordinator
Chuck Waller, Canyon Lake TX;
(210) 563-4246
District VIII Volunteers
District VIII
Jim Rice, District VIII Vice President; [email protected]
Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
I received word that my good friend Torin
Kay has arrived back in the United States
after a hard tour in Iraq. He has rejoined
his lovely family and been flying a lot with
his young son, Ayden.
Torin is not in District VIII but began
his RC days in El Paso and flew Pattern
throughout the high plains while a highschool
student in the late 1980s. He is now
a captain in the Marine Corps.
I am proud to have spent many days
during his youth teaching him to fly and
helping to groom him into the fine young
man and great American that he is today.
The future of our country and hobby
is walking the halls of your local high
schools. Everyone should try to bring at
least one young person into the local club
during this New Year. Not only will it
make a youngster happy, but you will be
amazed at how happy it will make you as
well.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/03
Page Numbers: 175
