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Dave Brown at a banquet held for him in
January.
Roughly 100
people attended a banquet January 26, 2008,
at the Horizon Convention Center in Muncie,
Indiana, in tribute to Dave Brown, who
served as AMA's 22nd president, from 1996
through 2007. He was accompanied by his
wife, Sally; his daughter, Connie; her
husband, Tim Gleason; his son, Dave; his
wife, Suzanne; and five grandchildren.
Dave
has served in Academy leadership positions,
as executive vice president, vice president,
and finally president, for 28 years. Bob
Underwood, who emceed the banquet, did the
math and determined that that equals
attending approximately 110 Executive
Council meetings, going through 1,000
Executive Council meeting motions and votes,
and writing 330 magazine columns.
Notable
attendees at the dinner included AMA
Executive Director Jim Cherry, Finbar and
Anne Constant, Dave's good friends who
traveled from Ireland to take part in the
festivities; National Aeronautic Association
(NAA) President Jonathan Gaffney; Anita
Storey, ninth AMA president Keith Storey's
wife; and Maynard Hill, who was AMA's 10th
president.
At the front of the room was a
table with a place setting and a candle
burning in honor of modelers who could not
attend. There was no head table at the
gathering because it was meant to be a
"family affair," and the presentation was
complemented by a slide show, by Mark Lanterman, featuring Dave at various stages
of his life.
Joyce Hager, AMA's staff
director, read a letter from former AMA
president Don Lowe, who was unable to attend
the banquet. According to an excerpt from
that letter, "[Dave Brown has] made an
important contribution, and this hobby is
better for [his] service."
"I have great
admiration for Dave," said Joyce. "He was a
great mentor."
Dave started modeling at age
7. Among his projects in his younger years
was constructing a scale XP-35 aircraft with
friends and covering it with foil from
Marlboro cigarette packs. Dave's other
interests have included midget car racing
and playing the banjo.
He was honorably
discharged from the Army in 1970,
immediately after which he went to work for
World Engines in Ohio as a toolmaker. In
1979 he started his own company—Dave Brown
Products—which he and Sally still own and
run.
In 1985 Dave Brown Products introduced
the first RC flight simulator. The company
continued to grow with the introduction of
wheels, aluminum spinners, and other
accessory items.
Dave's competitive modeling
career, which began in the 1950s, has
included participation in such categories as
CL Aerobatics, CL Scale, CL Speed, and RC
Aerobatics (Pattern). He participated in
such Pattern contests as the Badenwurtemberg
State Championships, AMA Nats, Tournament of
Champions, and FAI World Championships.
Dave
wasn't the only Brown honored at the
banquet; Bob Underwood presented Sally with
AMA's first HOPE [Hall of Partners
Extraordinaire] Award, which honors those
who support their partners in their aeromodeling endeavors.
"At least one half
of Dave is Sally," said Bob. According to
him she has acted as nurse, pit crew, wife,
business partner, mother, and children's
advocate, and has served in numerous other
roles.
"It's been quite a ride," she said.
Although Dave will no longer be AMA
president, he will represent the Academy in
various capacities with the FAI executive
committee, the NAA, and CIAM (the FAI
Aeromodelling Commission).
We look forward
to working together for many years to come,"
said newly elected AMA President Dave Mathewson.
The evening concluded with toasts
given by Bob Underwood and Finbar Constant.
"Keep on flying," said Dave. MA
—MA
Staff
Bob Underwood presents the first HOPE award
to
Dave Brown's wife Sally.
Finbar Constant, former Ireland Aero Club
president, toasts the
outgoing president with an Irish toast of
"Sláinte!" (pronounced
"slawn-cha"), which means "health."
Keith
Desbois
HRRC Member
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