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.
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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.