EAA Honors Five Aviators with Hall of Fame Induction on Nov. 15

Oct. 24, 2012
They are Taras Kiceniuk Jr., Giles Henderson, Clyde Smith Jr., Preston (Pete) Parish, and Wes Schmid.

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis. — (Oct. 24, 2012) — The Experimental Aircraft Association will recognize the contributions made to the world of flight by five aviators on Thursday, Nov. 15, as it inducts them into the EAA Hall of Fame during a banquet at the EAA Aviation Center in Oshkosh, Wis.

The five aviators represent the spectrum of aviation within the EAA community and have achieved notable successes within their particular realm of flight (details on each follow news release):

  • EAA Ultralight Hall of Fame: Taras Kiceniuk Jr. of Santa Paula, Calif.
  • International Aerobatic Club Hall of Fame: Giles Henderson of Charleston, Ill.
  • Vintage Aircraft Association Hall of Fame: Clyde Smith Jr. of Lock Haven, Pa.
  • Warbirds of America Hall of Fame: Preston (Pete) Parish of Kalamazoo, Mich.
  • EAA Homebuilders Hall of Fame: Wes Schmid of Wauwatosa, Wis.

“Each of these five individuals has made a unique contribution to the world of flight that has benefited all of us,” said Chad Jensen, EAA’s communities manager. “These inductees serve as an example for everyone involved in flying and represent the best that recreational aviation has to offer. We recognize their commitment and passion for flying and are honored to welcome them into the EAA Halls of Fame.”

In addition, Tom Shepeck of Oshkosh will receive the Henry Kimberly Spirit of Leadership Award for his efforts on behalf of EAA and the local community. Shepeck has long been involved as a volunteer in AirVenture activities, including as a liaison between the region’s government officials and the event.

A limited number of tickets remain for the dinner and program, which begins with a 6 p.m. reception. Tickets are priced at $50 each. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.eaa.org/halloffame or call 800-236-1025.

About EAA

EAA embodies the spirit of aviation through the world’s most engaged community of aviation enthusiasts. EAA’s 177,000 members and 1,000 local chapters enjoy the fun and camaraderie of sharing their passion for flying, building and restoring recreational aircraft. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 800-JOIN-EAA (800-564-6322) or go to www.eaa.org. For continual news updates, connect with www.twitter.com/EAAupdate

EAA HALLS OF FAME 2012 INDUCTEES

HOMEBUILDERS HALL OF FAME

Wes Schmid: Schmid, an EAA member since 1956, used his professional skills in the early EAA Experimenter magazine and the publication’s 1958 redesign and name change to Sport Aviation. He also prepared EAA’s advertising programs, developed specialty and educational materials, and displayed his own writing skills as co-author of the authoritative book “Golden Age of Air Racing.”

In 1959, Paul Poberezny appointed Schmid as chairman of the EAA fly-in’s forums area. He retained that position until 2009, a 50-year period where the forums grew from one tent in Rockford, Illinois, to more than a dozen pavilions at Oshkosh.  Schmid also has been a member of the EAA board of directors for 33 years, including as EAA’s board secretary for many of those years.

VINTAGE AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME

Clyde Smith Jr: Smith began a lengthy career with Piper Aircraft right after his college graduation, beginning as a draftsman in the engineering department. Some 20 years later, as manager of the Cub Kit Program, he created at PA-18 in kit form. He also introduced fabric Piper restoration and maintenance courses that are still popular today.

Smith is known as the “Cub Doctor” for his abilities with Piper Aircraft and other vintage airplanes. He has attended EAA conventions for more than 40 years, hosting forums and how-to seminars for restoring Pipers and other aircraft.

INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB HALL OF FAME

Giles Henderson: Henderson began flying in 1959 and taught himself aerobatic maneuvers from World War II flight manuals as his native Montana had no aerobatic flight schools. He began flying competition aerobatics in 1968 in a stock Piper Cub, later modifying the aircraft to win the International Aerobatic Club’s sportsman category for the first time in 1971.

Henderson is a four-time recipient of the IAC’s Soucy Award, which recognizes the pilot who earns the highest percentage of possible points during a contest season. He was also a long-standing member of the IAC Sequence Committee, which develops aerobatic routines for each season’s competition.

ULTRALIGHT HALL OF FAME

Taras Kiceniuk Jr: Kiceniuk is the founder and owner of Icarus Engineering, which since its creation in 1971 has developed several ultralight gliders that of established world records. In 1975, his Icarus HPA-1 was the first human-power aircraft to make unassisted flights in the United States. He also served as chief engineer for the Gossamer Albatross, which in 1979 became the first human-powered aircraft to cross the English Channel.

Kiceniuk continues to innovate today. He was project director for Reginator on electric- and wind-powered aircraft in 2007-2009, and demonstrated the first atmospheric energy-gathering flight on May 31, 2007.

WARBIRDS HALL OF FAME

Preston (Pete) Parish: Parish began is aviation career in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, eventually rising to the rank of major. After his military service, he created the flight department at the Upjohn Company in Kalamazoo and also became active in the National Business Aircraft Association, serving as NBAA’s chairman of the board in 1985-87.

Parish, who was inducted into the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame earlier this year, began his Warbirds interest after purchasing an N2S Stearman biplane. He became active within the EAA Warbirds of America and served as the Warbirds president from 1976 until 1980. 

INDUCTEES – EAA HALLS OF FAME:

INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB

1987: Jose Luis Aresti, Duane Cole, Curtis Pitts, Frank Price

1988: Marion Cole, Mike Murphy, Betty Skelton

1989: Robert L. Heuer, Beverly Howard, Harold Krier

1990: Lincoln Beachey, Bob Herendeen, Charlie Hillard, Art Scholl

1991: Leo Loudenslager, Mary Gaffaney

1993: Neil Williams, Clint McHenry

1998: Bill Barber, Rodney Jocelyn, Tex Rankin, Harold Neumann, Tom Poberezny

1999: Henry Haigh

2000: Gene Beggs

2001: Mike Heuer

2002: Bill Thomas, Bob Davis

2003: Don Taylor

2004: Betty Stewart, Dorothy Hester

2005: Patty Wagstaff

2006: Gene Soucy

2007: Debby Rihn-Harvey, Bill Kershner

2008: William B. “Bill” Finagin

2009: Robert A. “Bob” Hoover

2010: Jimmy Franklin

2011: Tony LeVier

2012: Giles Henderson

HOMEBUILDERS

1993: Paul Poberezny, S.J. “Steve” Wittman, George Bogardus

1994: Bernie Pietenpol, Bob Burbick, Ray Stits

1995: Tony Bingelis, Molt Taylor, John Thorp

1996: Sam Burgess, Nick D’Apuzzo, Ed Heath, Volmer Jensen

1997: Ladislao Pazmany, William Ghan, Harold Best-Devereux

1998: Curtis Pitts, Burt Rutan, Bill Warwick

1999: Henri Mignet, Richard Van Grunsven, Chris Heintz

2000: Jean Delemontez, Leslie Long

2001: John Monnett

2002: Jack Cox, Ken Brock

2003: William Chana

2004: Bob Whittier, Pete Bowers

2005: Robert Bushby

2006: Edgar Lesher, B.J. Schramm

2007: Randy Schlitter

2008: John W. Dyke

2009: Lance A. Neibauer

2010: Dean Wilson

2011: Ed Fisher

2012: Wes Schmid

VINTAGE AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION

1993: E.E. “Buck” Hilbert, George York

1995: Cole Palen, Kelly Viets, Joe Juptner

1997: Paul Poberezny, Ann Pellegreno, Jim Younkin, Harold Armstrong

1999: Gene Chase, Edward C. Wegner, Tom Flock

2000: Jack Cox

2001: Dr. Roy Wicker, Ted Koston

2002: John M. Miller

2003: Al Kelch, Nick Rezich

2004: Espie “Butch” Joyce

2005: Richard Knutson, Charlie Nelson

2006: Charles W. Harris

2007: Chet Peek

2008: Bill Pancake

2009: Stephen Pitcairn

2010: Morton Lester

2011: John W. Underwood

2012: Clyde Smith Jr.

WARBIRDS OF AMERICA

1995: Paul Poberezny, Walt Ohlrich, John Baugh, Bill Harrison, Jerry Walbrun

1996: Dick Dieter, Charlie Nogle

1997: Sue Parish, Rudy Frasca, Jeff Ethell

1998: John Ellis, Randy Sohn

1999: William Dodds, Richard Ervin

2000: Dave Schlingman

2001: Lincoln Dexter, Edward Maloney

2002: Frank C. Sanders

2003: Chuck Doyle, Lloyd Parker Nolen

2004: Howard Pardue

2005: Kermit Weeks, Steve Hinton

2006: Jack Harrington, Daryl Lenz

2007: Wilson “Connie” Edwards

2008: Connie Bowlin

2009: George H. Baker

2010: Harold D. “Hal” Weekley

2011: David B. Lindsay Jr.

2012: Preston (Pete) Parish

ULTRALIGHT

1999: Homer Kolb, John Moody, Chuck Slusarczyk

2000: Boris Popov, Wayne Ison

2001: Mike Sacrey

2002: John Chotia, Tom Peghiny

2003: Mike Jacober

2004: Klaus Hill, Bert Howland

2005: Larry Mauro

2006: Bob Lovejoy, Volmer Jensen

2007: Mike Markowski

2008: Mike Loehle

2009: Roy Pinner

2010: John Ballantyne

2011: Jack McCornack

2012: Taras Kiceniuk Jr.