The AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame award recognizes aeromodelers whose contributions to model aviation have been outstanding and have improved the sport/hobby and increased its prestige and stature.
I would like to recognize a District III Hall of Fame winner for 2014, Steve Wooley. If you’re a Control Line (CL) flier, you might remember Steve flying CL Aerobatics (Stunt) in the 1950s and 1960s. Steve was a three-time member of the US F2B Stunt world team in 1960, 1966, and 1968 and served as its team manager in 1964.
In 1962, at age 23, Steve was appointed by AMA as chairman of the FAI CL committee to represent the US in CIAM. He was also a judge at the 1970 CL World Championships. Steve designed two Stunt airplanes, the Argus and the Cobra, and an RC Pattern model, the Mura.
Steve was in the prime of his life when he was tragically killed in 1971 while driving in a Sports Car Club of America car race, another of Steve’s passions.
Because he was such an important figure in the international CL Stunt community, an award, previously named the Walker Cup, was renamed the Steve Wooley Cup. This award is given to the individual F2B Stunt World Champion. I think that says a lot about Steve’s contributions to the hobby/sport when your peers name a trophy for the world champion in your memory.
I got to know Steve when I was growing up as a member of the Vienna Sky Sharks in Ohio, and I always admired him for his contributions to model aviation around the world. Steve’s influence inspired me when I flew on four US F3A Aerobatics teams. Steve had a large influence on the Vienna Sky Sharks club and, since his death, the club president awards a memorial trophy yearly to a member who best represents Steve’s spirit.
One might ask, why did it take 43 years after his passing for Steve to be inducted into the AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame? Someone, in this case me, had to nominate Steve by contacting AMA and filling out the necessary application.
I am sure there are many more like Steve in District III who have contributed greatly to model aviation. If you know someone who is worthy of this high honor, go to the AMA website and download document 152 (www.modelaircraft.org/files/152.pdf) and submit the necessary documentation. I urge you to not wait to honor these individuals who are making our hobby/sport great.
I would like to announce two new District III associate vice presidents. They are John and Lisa Zoldak.
John and Lisa have been flying together since they met 16 years ago. Lisa spent much of her childhood at the Corsair Model Aircraft Club field in Kent, Ohio, with her dad (Dave Wenman). She was Junior Modeler of the Year and even won a trophy in a mall show!
John and Lisa became members of the Alliance Balsa Bees in Alliance, Ohio, where Lisa was elected secretary and started the Balsa Bees website. John was elected vice president and became a Contest Director. Now both are Leader Members, belong to numerous clubs were they have held office, and have built and run club websites.
I am proud to have this husband-and-wife team representing AMA District III. Please congratulate John and Lisa when you see them at an event, and thank them for volunteering to help the modelers of District III.
See you in Toledo!
