EAA STORE
EAA Inducts Seven
2008 EAA Hall of Fame Inductees
2008 EAA Halls of Fame inductees (l to r) Bill Pancake, Mike Loehle, John W. Dyke, Connie Bowlin, William B. "Bill" Finagin, Joan E. Mace, and Charles "Don" Fairbanks
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John Monnett, founder of Sonex Aircraft and 2001 Homebuilder Hall of Fame inductee, delivers the keynote address.
Richard M. Campbell, recipient of the Henry H. Kimberly Spirit of Leadership Award.
EAA President Tom Poberezny honors EAA pioneers, Ray and Bernice Scholler.
October 25, 2008 - Spotlights, cameras, and acceptance speeches with the occasional political joke ... you could call the EAA Sport Aviation Hall of Fame ceremonies “the Academy Awards of sport aviation.” Just like that Hollywood spectacular, individuals are recognized for their accomplishments and contributions to their vocation or avocation in an atmosphere of respect and celebration.
During the 2008 ceremonies held Friday evening, October 24, in the Eagle Hangar of the EAA AirVenture Museum, seven individuals were inducted into six halls of fame:
Bill Pancake - Vintage Aircraft Association Hall of Fame
Mike Loehle - EAA Ultralight Hall of Fame
John W. Dyke - EAA Homebuilders Hall of Fame
Connie Bowlin - EAA Warbirds of America Hall of Fame
William B. “Bill” Finagin - International Aerobatic Club Hall of Fame
Joan E. Mace - Flight Instructors Hall of Fame
Charles Donovan “Don” Fairbanks - Flight Instructors Hall of Fame
Other honors were also bestowed during the evening. Richard M. Campbell was presented the Henry H. Kimberly Spirit of Leadership Award, given annually in recognition of exceptional volunteer commitment and leadership to EAA in the local area. An EAA member for 33 years, Campbell has volunteered for EAA since 1979. In his acceptance speech, Campbell said he’s never forgotten his mother’s words: “Be useful.” Recalling his first volunteer assignment working on the convention’s front gate security and supervision detail, he added, “Henry said, ‘Campbell, you can do that.’ And, I’ll tell you, it’s pretty hard to say no to Henry Kimberly.” In presenting the award to Campbell, EAA President Tom Poberezny said Campbell’s commitment epitomizes the volunteer culture and experience of EAA on a local level.
With a standing ovation, the contributions of EAA pioneers Ray and Bernice Scholler were recognized with the pronouncement that EAA’s campgrounds will remain named Camp Scholler in perpetuity. “Emotion, pride, accomplishment, relationship, those are words that come to mind when I think of Ray and Bernice Scholler,” Poberezny said in honoring the couple. “EAA is about people and relationships and nowhere is that more evident than in the community that comes together each year in Camp Scholler.”
Ray Scholler, among the founders of EAA, served on EAA’s Board of Directors in the role of vice president for years. He recalled his first volunteer assignment at the fly-in in Rockford, Illinois, in 1959. “I was in charge of the portable toilets, and the company we hired to provide those services never showed up. I didn’t think I’d ever be invited back.” Now, nearly 50 years later, he and his family still volunteer, helping to manage Theater in the Woods festivities each year. Ray added, “There’s no way I can tell you how much we’ve enjoyed being a part of EAA since 1953.”
EAA board member David Lau was presented the Federal Aviation Administration’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot award in recognition of his 50 years of active flying. Reminiscing about the changes in aviation he’s seen, he said, “It’s been 50 years of very interesting flying.”
John Monnett, 2001 EAA Homebuilders Hall of Fame Inductee, gave the keynote speech of the evening, congratulating EAA on its 25 years in Oshkosh and talking about the wonderment of aviation. He stated aviation is on the “brink of a paradigm of change,” and challenged the evening’s attendees to turn the tide of an older demographic by involving more young people and helping them pursue their dreams and experience that wonderment.
In closing the evening’s ceremonies, Poberezny said, “There is no better venue to hold these ceremonies than in this museum where so much of aviation’s history is housed. We congratulate all the honorees and thank them for their contributions to our sport.”
