Twelve aviation notables recognized for contributions
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (September 30, 2021) — Twelve individuals who contributed greatly to recreational aviation will be honored on November 11 as they are inducted into the EAA Sport Aviation Halls of Fame during a ceremony and dinner at the EAA Aviation Center in Oshkosh. The large group of individuals represent the Hall of Fame classes of 2020 and 2021, as the 2020 induction ceremony was canceled due to the COVID pandemic.
The 2021 inductees include:
- EAA Homebuilders Hall of Fame: Flo and Bob Irwin (posthumous)
- International Aerobatic Club Hall of Fame: Kirby Chambliss of Chandler, Arizona
- Warbirds of America Hall of Fame: Carl Scholl of Chino, California, and Tony Ritzman of Ontario, California
- Vintage Aircraft Association Hall of Fame: Steve Nesse of Albert Lea, Minnesota
- EAA Ultralights Hall of Fame: Roy Beisswenger of Greenville, Illinois
The November 11 event will also recognize the 2020 inductees:
- EAA Homebuilders Hall of Fame: Frank Christensen of St. George, Utah
- International Aerobatic Club Hall of Fame: Verne Jobst of McHenry, Illinois
- Warbirds of America Hall of Fame: Mark Clark of Rockford, Illinois
- Vintage Aircraft Association Hall of Fame: Steve Dyer of Brighton, Colorado
- EAA Ultralights Hall of Fame: Dan Johnson of Port Orange, Florida
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.
About EAA
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and embodies The Spirit of Aviation through the world’s most engaged community of aviation enthusiasts. EAA’s 240,000 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.
EAA HALLS OF FAME 2021 INDUCTEES
HOMEBUILDERS HALL OF FAME
Flo and Bob Irwin (posthumous): In 1965, the couple began a business named Aircraft Spruce that sold timber to those who were building their own airplanes. The company quickly grew into a one-stop shop for aviation builders and restorers, as well as all aircraft owners, and became known by its current name of Aircraft Spruce and Specialty. The company’s annual catalog, in both print and online versions, has become the “wish book” for aviation enthusiasts.
VINTAGE AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME
Steve Nesse (EAA 27037): Nesse has been actively involved in EAA since the late 1960s and with the Vintage Aircraft Association since its inception in 1971 as the EAA Antique-Classic Division. He was instrumental in the creation of the Contemporary Aircraft judging category at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in the early 1990s, which allowed thousands of aircraft to be restored, maintained and judged to the high standards that are the hallmarks of the esteemed Lindy awards. Nesse is also a longtime member of the VAA board of directors, chairs the Tall Pines Café area, and involved in restoration workshops and other areas that serve AirVenture attendees.
INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB HALL OF FAME
Kirby Chambliss (EAA 261512): Chambliss has lived an aviation life, beginning with his first flight lesons at age 13, a corporate pilot at age 21, and a Southwest Airlines pilot by age 24. His most notable fame, however, came as an aerobatic competitor and air show performer. Chambliss is a five-time U.S. National Aerobatic Champion, a member of the U.S. National Aerobatic Team from 1997-2005 as well as its captain on three occasions. He has earned 13 medals in world aerobatics competition.
WARBIRDS OF AMERICA HALL OF FAME
Carl Scholl (EAA 184061) and Tony Ritzman (EAA 393289): This duo both began their interest in aviation in the 1970s and, after meeting at Scholl’s transmission shop, they began started Aero Traders, an aircraft restoration business that has become renowned for its painstaking attention to detail and “doing it right.” For more than 40 years they have restored dozens of warbirds and there are few airworthy B-25 Mitchell bombers from the World War II era flying today that have not been under their care.
ULTRALIGHTS HALL OF FAME
Roy Beisswenger (EAA 537298): Beisswenger has made significant contributions to ultralight flight as an instructor, event organizer, and media supporter. He is the only FAA Gold Seal flight instructor to have earned the recognition through training powered parachute pilots, and has served on international committees that created competition and record-setting sdtandards for the sport. He organized the World Powered Parachute championships in 2000, drawing competitors from four continents. He created the UltraFlight Radio Show and took over publishing UltraFlight Magzine, now known as Powered Sport Flying Magazine.
EAA HALLS OF FAME 2020 INDUCTEES
HOMEBUILDERS HALL OF FAME
Frank Christensen (EAA 36663): Christensen is one of only a few individuals honored in two of the EAA Halls of Fame, as he was also inducted into the International Aerobatic Club Hall of Fame in 2017. Christensen changed both the aerobatic and kit aircraft communities in 1977 with the introduction of the Christen Eagle, a fully aerobatic biplane that also set the gold standard for homebuilt aircraft kits. Christensen was also an outstanding aerobatic competition pilot, winning the Advanced category title at the 1969 U.S. National Aerobatic Championships.
VINTAGE AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME
Steve Dyer (EAA 40682): Dyer has been an avid supporter of the vintage aircraft movement throughout his life and has been instrumental in developing replacement parts to keep those historic aircraft flying. His family business, Univair Aircraft Corporation, has been a go-to resource for owners of vintage aircraft including for types that have been “orphaned” after their manufacturers went out of business. Dyer’s foresight and abilities have allowed thousands of aircraft throughout the country to remain airworthy and serve as examples of the varied designs and capabilities of vintage aircraft.
INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB HALL OF FAME
Verne Jobst (EAA 37653): Jobst was one of the first members of IAC when it was founded in 1971, serving as the first editor of Sport Aerobatics magazine and beginning in 1973, a five-term as president of the organization. During that time, IAC’s local chapter network and competition schedule expanded, along with the creation of the IAC Achievement Awards program. Jobst also served on the EAA board of directors for nearly 30 years and headed air show operations at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for 33 years. He was also well known for his piloting skills of EAA’s Spirit of St. Louis replicas, including flying the aircraft in 1987 at LeBourget Airport in Paris on the 60th anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s epic trans-Atlantic flight.
WARBIRDS OF AMERICA HALL OF FAME
Mark Clark (EAA 42114): Clark turned his passion for flying, military aircraft, and history into a career as his family business, Courtesy Aircraft, helped thousands of aviators achieve their dreams of owning and operating historic military and other aircraft. His company is especially known as one of the leading brokers in the world of warbird aircraft. Clark’s own aviation career began in his teens, including a T-6 restoration while he was in college. He holds the FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award and is a longtime organizer of the National Warbird Operators Conference.
ULTRALIGHTS HALL OF FAME
Dan Johnson (EAA 368861): Johnson has a lifelong dedication to promoting and preserving light recreational aviation, beginning with his start as a hang glider pilot in Tennessee. He promoted the sport through his own magazine, Whole Air, and through his writing for numerous other aviation publications. Johnson worked with Ballistic Recovery Systems to help develop and promote ballstic recovery chutes for ultralights that improved the safety of the sport. He is also currently president and chairman of the board for the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, which advocates to the FAA on behalf of the ultralight and light aircraft communities.
INDUCTEES – EAA HALL 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
2019: Robert Nuckolls
2020: Frank Christensen
2021: Flo and Bob Irwin
INTL. 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.
2019: John Morrissey
2020: Verne Jobst
2021: Kirby Chambliss
VINTAGE AIRCRAFT ASSN.
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
2019: John Turgyan
2020: Stephen Dyer
2021: Steve Nesse
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
2019: Dennis Sanders
2020: Mark Clark
2021: Carl Scholl, Tony Ritzman
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
2019: Morry Hummel
2020: Dan Johnson
2021: Roy Beisswenger
