Author: Bob Hunt
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/04
Page Numbers: 6

Modeling Spoken Here

As I've mentioned before, some editorials are easier to write than others. This one will be difficult. It involves the loss of a longtime friend and modeling associate who was not a competitor or flier but who made competition and sport flying much more enjoyable by way of service to the modeling community.

You may know someone, or many "someones," like this—someone whose only involvement in a particular hobby, sport, or pastime is strictly service oriented. Have you ever stopped to give a thought to those who give of their time and talents to ensure that you have a good time participating? Ever wonder what they get out of it or wondered why they keep serving without much recognition or fanfare?

I must confess that until now I hadn't given much thought to those service-oriented individuals. The passing of one such person has brought the entire subject into sudden and sharp focus for me.

Remembering Mary Gebhart

Mary Gebhart was a fixture at most of the CL functions I have attended in the past 30 years or so. To my knowledge she never actually picked up a handle and flew a model herself at any of those gatherings. She attended with her husband, Bob Hazle, and generally pitched in immediately to perform any one of a number of seemingly thankless jobs to make sure the affair in question ran smoothly.

Her résumé of skills and services included the very high-profile job of CL aerobatics judging, and she did this skillfully and fairly on many occasions at both the local and national level. I had the opportunity to judge with Mary several times and found her to be among the most professional and focused judges with whom I have ever worked. Judging for Mary was a solemn thing. I remember when she first started judging she would ask pointed and technical questions of those of us who had been performing this task for many years. Sometimes the questions were so insightful that we would not know the answers! She had the ability to abstract and analyze minute details and process information at an amazing rate. You had to be on your toes to work with Mary; there was no room for tomfoolery when you were paired with her in a judging team.

Mary's service extended to the low-profile and thankless jobs as well. She would gladly run scores from the judges' stations to the tabulating area or volunteer to be a tabulator when needed. Picking up trash after the affair was over and helping to break down the site was never beneath her.

Mary was a friend to aeromodeling in every sense of the word, and her willingness to participate and give of herself will forever place her in my personal modeling Hall of Fame. I'm sure all who knew her feel the same way.

A few years back Mary received the coveted and prestigious Bob Gialdini Sportsmanship Award for her tireless and unselfish work at the annual Vintage Stunt Championships. She deserved it. Heartfelt condolences go out to Mary's husband and our friend Bob Hazle for his loss. We share the grief with him.

Lessons and Suggestions

What message and/or lesson am I taking away from this loss? From this point forward I intend to be more cognizant of the many who work all day at a contest or fun-fly to ensure my enjoyment. I will also make it a point to volunteer more often to do those thankless jobs.

Here are some tangible things we can all do for such people:

  • Give personal thanks rather than wait for the group applause that the contest director or event director usually calls for at the end of an event. Individual recognition feels much better.
  • Pass the hat at fun-flys and contests for modest contributions. The total received can be divided among the helpers so they can offset travel costs or enjoy a good dinner.
  • Event directors might consider giving the helpers simple certificates of appreciation. At larger meets a small plaque might be appropriate.
  • Volunteer to do those tasks from time to time so the regular helpers can have a breather and enjoy watching or participating themselves.

Without such people our current system would simply not work. Let's make sure they know that we know it!

Contact

Be sure to thank your postman for his service.

MA

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.