EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (November 9, 2018) — The Experimental Aircraft Association recognized the contributions made to the world of flight by five people as they were inducted into the EAA Sport Aviation Halls of Fame on November 8 during a ceremony at the EAA Aviation Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
The five inductees represent a spectrum of aviation within the EAA community and have achieved notable successes within their particular realm of flight:
· EAA Homebuilders Hall of Fame: Darryl Murphy of Chilliwack, British Columbia
· International Aerobatic Club Hall of Fame: Thomas Adams Jr. of Brenham, Texas
· Warbirds of America Hall of Fame: Jack Roush of Livonia, Michigan
· EAA Ultralights Hall of Fame: Eugene Smith (posthumous)
· Vintage Aircraft Association Hall of Fame: Ron Alexander (posthumous)
The EAA Sport Aviation Halls of Fame were established to honor the outstanding achievements of men and women in aviation who share the spirit of EAA and its community. Those inducted into the halls of fame are selected by their peers for myriad contributions made to their respective areas of aviation.
In addition, Ken Kellner of Neenah, Wisconsin, will receive the Henry Kimberly Spirit of Leadership Award for his efforts on behalf of EAA and the local community. Kellner has flown as a volunteer pilot at EAA’s Pioneer Airport for 20 years and has flown more than 2,600 young people as part of the EAA Young Eagles program.
HOMEBUILDERS HALL OF FAME
Darryl Murphy (EAA 293368): Murphy got his start in the late 1970s by designing and building a rigid-wing hang glider, a rarity at that time. His first powered aircraft design, a single-seat biplane, first flew in 1984. Using innovative construction techniques, he upgraded his designs and founded Murphy Aircraft in 1985. His subsequent designs included such notable aircraft as the Renegade biplane series, the all-aluminum Rebel, the Maverick, the Elite, and the sturdy Moose bushplane.
Along with the aircraft designs, Murphy aircraft were the first to use the venerable Rotax 914 engine, and Murphy also designed a series of amphibious floats as well as wheels and brakes.
VINTAGE AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME
Ron Alexander (EAA 137890 - posthumous): Alexander began restoring antique aircraft in the mid-1970s. He quickly branched out, as his Alexander Aeroplane Company became a major supplier of materials for both aircraft restorers and builders. In 1993, Alexander created a series of hands-on workshops where people could experience and learn the necessary skills to build and restore aircraft, which eventually became the EAA SportAir Workshop series, which each year welcomes thousands of aviation enthusiasts at sites nationwide.
Before his death in November 2016, Alexander led the development of the Peach State Aerodrome and Candler Field Museum in Williamson, Georgia. This facility preserves history by recreating the old Atlanta airport as it existed in the 1920s and 1930s, and has extensive youth programming to inspire young people in aviation.
INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB HALL OF FAME
Tom Adams (EAA 77537): Adams has excelled in competition aerobatics flying, judging, and instructing. His aerobatic career began with a self-built Pitts S-1C in regional IAC contests. He has earned multiple competition awards, and is highly regarded as a judge after serving in that role for more than 200 contests. Adams also served on the IAC board of directors for more than 28 years and continues to serve as a judge at the annual U.S. National Aerobatic Championships.
Adams retired as a captain on the 747-400 after logging time in more than 100 different aircraft types.
ULTRALIGHTS HALL OF FAME
Eugene Smith (EAA 105537 - posthumous): Smith, a Missouri native, earned a mechanical engineering degree and eventually started a flight training and crop-dusting operation while also owning a farm in Missouri. His gift and passion for mechanical design and innovation led him in 1998 to start Valley Engineering with his son, Larry. That company designed the popular Back Yard Flyer ultralight.
Smith also created more than 20 other aircraft. In 2001, he acquired Culver Props, and his two businesses have long supplied the ultralight and light-sport aircraft communities with complete aircraft, as well as components such as reduction drive systems, engines, and propellers. He died in December 2016.
WARBIRDS OF AMERICA HALL OF FAME
Jack Roush (EAA 478254): Best known as a championship NASCAR team owner, Roush has made major contributions to the preservation of warbirds everywhere. His passion began with restoring his own P-51 Mustang that led to the creation of Roush Aviation, an FAA Certificated Repair Station that specializes in restoring Warbird Merlin engines while introducing new technology.
He is perhaps best known for the restorations of the P-51 Mustangs named Old Crow in honor of World War II triple ace Clarence “Bud” Anderson.
ALL-TIME LIST OF INDUCTEES – EAA HALLS OF FAME
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
2013: Phillip J. Lockwood
2014: George Pereira
2015: Tom Hamilton
2016: Jim Bede
2017: Rob Hickman
2018: Darryl Murphy
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
2013: William Joseph “Bill” Adams
2014: Sammy Mason
2015: Sean D. Tucker
2016: Robert Armstrong
2017: Frank Christensen
2018: Thomas Adams Jr.
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.
2013: Susan Dusenbury
2014: Timothy Talen
2015: Dale “Gus” Gustafson
2016: Phil Coulson
2017: Jim Moss
2018: Ron Alexander
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
2013: Lee Lauderback
2014: Jay Wisler
2015: Nelson Ezell
2016: Doug Champlin
2017: Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson
2018: Jack Roush
ULTRALIGHTS
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.
2013: Frank Beagle
2014: Lowell Farrand
2015: Leonard Milholland
2016: Tracy Knauss
2017: Mary Jones
2018: Eugene Smith
About EAA
EAA embodies The Spirit of Aviation through the world’s most engaged community of aviation enthusiasts. EAA’s 219,000 members and 900 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/EAA.
