EAA Presents Marv Hoppenworth with EAA Lifetime Achievement Award

September 2016 - Marv Hoppenworth is someone who I wish could be in every EAA Chapter. His enthusiasm and willingness to share his knowledge and skills is just as strong today as it was when he joined EAA back in 1956.

Marv has attended and volunteered at 60 consecutive EAA fly-in conventions. Note that I said “fly-in conventions,” because we have only called it AirVenture Oshkosh lately.

He is best known to the EAA world as the designer of the incredibly popular pedal planes that so many EAA members and chapters have built over the years. (I built a Tiger Moth for my nephew.) Marv’s contributions to EAA are remarkable.

Here are just a few:

• The fourth person to sign up as an EAA lifetime member
• Founding member of Chapter 33 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• EAA Regional Representative for a five state area from 1962-1965
• Helped organize and form Chapter 227 in Waterloo, Iowa, and Chapter 214 in Fort Dodge, Iowa
• Formed the first Emergency Repair Tent for the EAA convention in the early 1960s with Marshal Turner
• Was in the first group of EAA Technical Counselors
• Has served as program chair and chapter president over the years
• Classic airplane judge at Oshkosh from 1980-1990
• Taught welding at the Oshkosh workshops
• Received the Charlie Taylor Award from the FAA for over 50 years as an A&P
• Authored 10 EAA Sport Aviation magazine technical articles between 1964 and 2016
• Made countless technical presentations to Chapter 33 and in Oshkosh forums
• Gave airplane rides to many kids at chapter events long before the Young Eagles program
• Provided the pedal planes for kids near the main Oshkosh flight line entrance and signed and provided the pedal planes for KidVenture

Marv was not able to make EAA AirVenture 2016 to receive his award, so I set up with Mike Jimenez, Chapter 33 president, to come down and present the award in person as a surprise to Marv and his wife Cathy. It was an honor and privilege to present this award on behalf of EAA to Marv at Chapter 33’s August gathering.

During the meeting, as I was waiting in the back room to surprise Marv, a number of members were recognized for attending the recent welding workshop that Marv taught for chapter members. Just another example of his willingness to share his knowledge and love of aviation even today with his fellow chapter members.